PART I - CHAPTER XLIV.

by Miguel de Cervantes

　　IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE UNHEARD-OF ADVENTURES OF THE INNSo loud, in fact, were the shouts of Don Quixote, that the landlordopening the gate of the inn in all haste, came out in dismay, and ran tosee who was uttering such cries, and those who were outside joined him.Maritornes, who had been by this time roused up by the same outcry,suspecting what it was, ran to the loft and, without anyone seeing her,untied the halter by which Don Quixote was suspended, and down he came tothe ground in the sight of the landlord and the travellers, whoapproaching asked him what was the matter with him that he shouted so. Hewithout replying a word took the rope off his wrist, and rising to hisfeet leaped upon Rocinante, braced his buckler on his arm, put his lancein rest, and making a considerable circuit of the plain came back at ahalf-gallop exclaiming:"Whoever shall say that I have been enchanted with just cause, providedmy lady the Princess Micomicona grants me permission to do so, I give himthe lie, challenge him and defy him to single combat."The newly arrived travellers were amazed at the words of Don Quixote; butthe landlord removed their surprise by telling them who he was, and notto mind him as he was out of his senses. They then asked the landlord ifby any chance a youth of about fifteen years of age had come to that inn,one dressed like a muleteer, and of such and such an appearance,describing that of Dona Clara's lover. The landlord replied that therewere so many people in the inn he had not noticed the person they wereinquiring for; but one of them observing the coach in which the Judge hadcome, said, "He is here no doubt, for this is the coach he is following:let one of us stay at the gate, and the rest go in to look for him; orindeed it would be as well if one of us went round the inn, lest heshould escape over the wall of the yard." "So be it," said another; andwhile two of them went in, one remained at the gate and the other madethe circuit of the inn; observing all which, the landlord was unable toconjecture for what reason they were taking all these precautions, thoughhe understood they were looking for the youth whose description they hadgiven him.It was by this time broad daylight; and for that reason, as well as inconsequence of the noise Don Quixote had made, everybody was awake andup, but particularly Dona Clara and Dorothea; for they had been able tosleep but badly that night, the one from agitation at having her lover sonear her, the other from curiosity to see him. Don Quixote, when he sawthat not one of the four travellers took any notice of him or replied tohis challenge, was furious and ready to die with indignation and wrath;and if he could have found in the ordinances of chivalry that it waslawful for a knight-errant to undertake or engage in another enterprise,when he had plighted his word and faith not to involve himself in anyuntil he had made an end of the one to which he was pledged, he wouldhave attacked the whole of them, and would have made them return ananswer in spite of themselves. But considering that it would not becomehim, nor be right, to begin any new emprise until he had establishedMicomicona in her kingdom, he was constrained to hold his peace and waitquietly to see what would be the upshot of the proceedings of those sametravellers; one of whom found the youth they were seeking lying asleep bythe side of a muleteer, without a thought of anyone coming in search ofhim, much less finding him.The man laid hold of him by the arm, saying, "It becomes you well indeed,Senor Don Luis, to be in the dress you wear, and well the bed in which Ifind you agrees with the luxury in which your mother reared you."The youth rubbed his sleepy eyes and stared for a while at him who heldhim, but presently recognised him as one of his father's servants, atwhich he was so taken aback that for some time he could not find or uttera word; while the servant went on to say, "There is nothing for it now,Senor Don Luis, but to submit quietly and return home, unless it is yourwish that my lord, your father, should take his departure for the otherworld, for nothing else can be the consequence of the grief he is in atyour absence.""But how did my father know that I had gone this road and in this dress?"said Don Luis."It was a student to whom you confided your intentions," answered theservant, "that disclosed them, touched with pity at the distress he sawyour father suffer on missing you; he therefore despatched four of hisservants in quest of you, and here we all are at your service, betterpleased than you can imagine that we shall return so soon and be able torestore you to those eyes that so yearn for you.""That shall be as I please, or as heaven orders," returned Don Luis."What can you please or heaven order," said the other, "except to agreeto go back? Anything else is impossible."All this conversation between the two was overheard by the muleteer atwhose side Don Luis lay, and rising, he went to report what had takenplace to Don Fernando, Cardenio, and the others, who had by this timedressed themselves; and told them how the man had addressed the youth as"Don," and what words had passed, and how he wanted him to return to hisfather, which the youth was unwilling to do. With this, and what theyalready knew of the rare voice that heaven had bestowed upon him, theyall felt very anxious to know more particularly who he was, and even tohelp him if it was attempted to employ force against him; so theyhastened to where he was still talking and arguing with his servant.Dorothea at this instant came out of her room, followed by Dona Clara allin a tremor; and calling Cardenio aside, she told him in a few words thestory of the musician and Dona Clara, and he at the same time told herwhat had happened, how his father's servants had come in search of him;but in telling her so, he did not speak low enough but that Dona Claraheard what he said, at which she was so much agitated that had notDorothea hastened to support her she would have fallen to the ground.Cardenio then bade Dorothea return to her room, as he would endeavour tomake the whole matter right, and they did as he desired. All the four whohad come in quest of Don Luis had now come into the inn and surroundedhim, urging him to return and console his father at once and without amoment's delay. He replied that he could not do so on any account untilhe had concluded some business in which his life, honour, and heart wereat stake. The servants pressed him, saying that most certainly they wouldnot return without him, and that they would take him away whether heliked it or not."You shall not do that," replied Don Luis, "unless you take me dead;though however you take me, it will be without life."By this time most of those in the inn had been attracted by the dispute,but particularly Cardenio, Don Fernando, his companions, the Judge, thecurate, the barber, and Don Quixote; for he now considered there was nonecessity for mounting guard over the castle any longer. Cardenio beingalready acquainted with the young man's story, asked the men who wantedto take him away, what object they had in seeking to carry off this youthagainst his will."Our object," said one of the four, "is to save the life of his father,who is in danger of losing it through this gentleman's disappearance."Upon this Don Luis exclaimed, "There is no need to make my affairs publichere; I am free, and I will return if I please; and if not, none of youshall compel me.""Reason will compel your worship," said the man, "and if it has no powerover you, it has power over us, to make us do what we came for, and whatit is our duty to do.""Let us hear what the whole affair is about," said the Judge at this; butthe man, who knew him as a neighbour of theirs, replied, "Do you not knowthis gentleman, Senor Judge? He is the son of your neighbour, who has runaway from his father's house in a dress so unbecoming his rank, as yourworship may perceive."The judge on this looked at him more carefully and recognised him, andembracing him said, "What folly is this, Senor Don Luis, or what can havebeen the cause that could have induced you to come here in this way, andin this dress, which so ill becomes your condition?"Tears came into the eyes of the young man, and he was unable to utter aword in reply to the Judge, who told the four servants not to be uneasy,for all would be satisfactorily settled; and then taking Don Luis by thehand, he drew him aside and asked the reason of his having come there.But while he was questioning him they heard a loud outcry at the gate ofthe inn, the cause of which was that two of the guests who had passed thenight there, seeing everybody busy about finding out what it was the fourmen wanted, had conceived the idea of going off without paying what theyowed; but the landlord, who minded his own affairs more than otherpeople's, caught them going out of the gate and demanded his reckoning,abusing them for their dishonesty with such language that he drove themto reply with their fists, and so they began to lay on him in such astyle that the poor man was forced to cry out, and call for help. Thelandlady and her daughter could see no one more free to give aid than DonQuixote, and to him the daughter said, "Sir knight, by the virtue God hasgiven you, help my poor father, for two wicked men are beating him to amummy."To which Don Quixote very deliberately and phlegmatically replied, "Fairdamsel, at the present moment your request is inopportune, for I amdebarred from involving myself in any adventure until I have brought to ahappy conclusion one to which my word has pledged me; but that which Ican do for you is what I will now mention: run and tell your father tostand his ground as well as he can in this battle, and on no account toallow himself to be vanquished, while I go and request permission of thePrincess Micomicona to enable me to succour him in his distress; and ifshe grants it, rest assured I will relieve him from it.""Sinner that I am," exclaimed Maritornes, who stood by; "before you havegot your permission my master will be in the other world.""Give me leave, senora, to obtain the permission I speak of," returnedDon Quixote; "and if I get it, it will matter very little if he is in theother world; for I will rescue him thence in spite of all the same worldcan do; or at any rate I will give you such a revenge over those whoshall have sent him there that you will be more than moderatelysatisfied;" and without saying anything more he went and knelt beforeDorothea, requesting her Highness in knightly and errant phrase to bepleased to grant him permission to aid and succour the castellan of thatcastle, who now stood in grievous jeopardy. The princess granted itgraciously, and he at once, bracing his buckler on his arm and drawinghis sword, hastened to the inn-gate, where the two guests were stillhandling the landlord roughly; but as soon as he reached the spot hestopped short and stood still, though Maritornes and the landlady askedhim why he hesitated to help their master and husband."I hesitate," said Don Quixote, "because it is not lawful for me to drawsword against persons of squirely condition; but call my squire Sancho tome; for this defence and vengeance are his affair and business."Thus matters stood at the inn-gate, where there was a very livelyexchange of fisticuffs and punches, to the sore damage of the landlordand to the wrath of Maritornes, the landlady, and her daughter, who werefurious when they saw the pusillanimity of Don Quixote, and the hardtreatment their master, husband and father was undergoing. But let usleave him there; for he will surely find some one to help him, and ifnot, let him suffer and hold his tongue who attempts more than hisstrength allows him to do; and let us go back fifty paces to see what DonLuis said in reply to the Judge whom we left questioning him privately asto his reasons for coming on foot and so meanly dressed.To which the youth, pressing his hand in a way that showed his heart wastroubled by some great sorrow, and shedding a flood of tears, madeanswer:"Senor, I have no more to tell you than that from the moment when,through heaven's will and our being near neighbours, I first saw DonaClara, your daughter and my lady, from that instant I made her themistress of my will, and if yours, my true lord and father, offers noimpediment, this very day she shall become my wife. For her I left myfather's house, and for her I assumed this disguise, to follow herwhithersoever she may go, as the arrow seeks its mark or the sailor thepole-star. She knows nothing more of my passion than what she may havelearned from having sometimes seen from a distance that my eyes werefilled with tears. You know already, senor, the wealth and noble birth ofmy parents, and that I am their sole heir; if this be a sufficientinducement for you to venture to make me completely happy, accept me atonce as your son; for if my father, influenced by other objects of hisown, should disapprove of this happiness I have sought for myself, timehas more power to alter and change things, than human will."With this the love-smitten youth was silent, while the Judge, afterhearing him, was astonished, perplexed, and surprised, as well at themanner and intelligence with which Don Luis had confessed the secret ofhis heart, as at the position in which he found himself, not knowing whatcourse to take in a matter so sudden and unexpected. All the answer,therefore, he gave him was to bid him to make his mind easy for thepresent, and arrange with his servants not to take him back that day, sothat there might be time to consider what was best for all parties. DonLuis kissed his hands by force, nay, bathed them with his tears, in a waythat would have touched a heart of marble, not to say that of the Judge,who, as a shrewd man, had already perceived how advantageous the marriagewould be to his daughter; though, were it possible, he would havepreferred that it should be brought about with the consent of the fatherof Don Luis, who he knew looked for a title for his son.The guests had by this time made peace with the landlord, for, bypersuasion and Don Quixote's fair words more than by threats, they hadpaid him what he demanded, and the servants of Don Luis were waiting forthe end of the conversation with the Judge and their master's decision,when the devil, who never sleeps, contrived that the barber, from whomDon Quixote had taken Mambrino's helmet, and Sancho Panza the trappingsof his ass in exchange for those of his own, should at this instant enterthe inn; which said barber, as he led his ass to the stable, observedSancho Panza engaged in repairing something or other belonging to thepack-saddle; and the moment he saw it he knew it, and made bold to attackSancho, exclaiming, "Ho, sir thief, I have caught you! hand over my basinand my pack-saddle, and all my trappings that you robbed me of."Sancho, finding himself so unexpectedly assailed, and hearing the abusepoured upon him, seized the pack-saddle with one hand, and with the othergave the barber a cuff that bathed his teeth in blood. The barber,however, was not so ready to relinquish the prize he had made in thepack-saddle; on the contrary, he raised such an outcry that everyone inthe inn came running to know what the noise and quarrel meant. "Here, inthe name of the king and justice!" he cried, "this thief and highwaymanwants to kill me for trying to recover my property.""You lie," said Sancho, "I am no highwayman; it was in fair war my masterDon Quixote won these spoils."Don Quixote was standing by at the time, highly pleased to see hissquire's stoutness, both offensive and defensive, and from that timeforth he reckoned him a man of mettle, and in his heart resolved to dubhim a knight on the first opportunity that presented itself, feeling surethat the order of chivalry would be fittingly bestowed upon him.In the course of the altercation, among other things the barber said,"Gentlemen, this pack-saddle is mine as surely as I owe God a death, andI know it as well as if I had given birth to it, and here is my ass inthe stable who will not let me lie; only try it, and if it does not fithim like a glove, call me a rascal; and what is more, the same day I wasrobbed of this, they robbed me likewise of a new brass basin, never yethandselled, that would fetch a crown any day."At this Don Quixote could not keep himself from answering; andinterposing between the two, and separating them, he placed thepack-saddle on the ground, to lie there in sight until the truth wasestablished, and said, "Your worships may perceive clearly and plainlythe error under which this worthy squire lies when he calls a basin whichwas, is, and shall be the helmet of Mambrino which I won from him in airwar, and made myself master of by legitimate and lawful possession. Withthe pack-saddle I do not concern myself; but I may tell you on that headthat my squire Sancho asked my permission to strip off the caparison ofthis vanquished poltroon's steed, and with it adorn his own; I allowedhim, and he took it; and as to its having been changed from a caparisoninto a pack-saddle, I can give no explanation except the usual one, thatsuch transformations will take place in adventures of chivalry. Toconfirm all which, run, Sancho my son, and fetch hither the helmet whichthis good fellow calls a basin.""Egad, master," said Sancho, "if we have no other proof of our case thanwhat your worship puts forward, Mambrino's helmet is just as much a basinas this good fellow's caparison is a pack-saddle.""Do as I bid thee," said Don Quixote; "it cannot be that everything inthis castle goes by enchantment."Sancho hastened to where the basin was, and brought it back with him, andwhen Don Quixote saw it, he took hold of it and said:"Your worships may see with what a face this squire can assert that thisis a basin and not the helmet I told you of; and I swear by the order ofchivalry I profess, that this helmet is the identical one I took fromhim, without anything added to or taken from it.""There is no doubt of that," said Sancho, "for from the time my masterwon it until now he has only fought one battle in it, when he let loosethose unlucky men in chains; and if had not been for this basin-helmet hewould not have come off over well that time, for there was plenty ofstone-throwing in that affair."