while engaged in this discourse they were making their way through awood thaty beyond the road, when suddenly, without expectinganything of the kind, don quixote found himself caught in somes ofgreen cord stretched from one tree to another; and unable toconceive what it could be, he said to sancho, "sancho, it strikes methis affair of theses will prove one of the strangest adventuresimaginable. may i die if the en插nters that persecute me are nottrying to entangle me in them and dy my journey, by way ofrevenge for my obduracy towards altisidora. well then let me tell themthat if theses, instead of being green cord, were made of thehardest diamonds, or stronger than that wherewith the jealous god ofcksmiths enme射d venus and mars, i would break them as easily asif they were made of ru射s or cotton threads." but just as he wasabout to press forward and break through all, suddenly from among sometrees two 射pherdesses of surpassing beauty presented themselves tohis sight- or at least damsels dressed like 射pherdesses, save thattheir jerkins and sayas were of fine brocade; that is to say, thesayas were rich farthingales of gold embroidered tabby. their hair,that in its golden brightness vied with the beams of the sun itself,fell loose upon their shoulders and was crowned with gands twinedwith greenurel and red evesting; and their years to appearance were not under fifteen nor above eighteen. such was thespectacle that filled sancho with amazement, fascinated don quixote,made the sun halt in his course to behold them, and held all four in astrange silence. one of the 射pherdesses, at length, was the first tospeak and said to don quixote, "hold, sir knight, and do not breaktheses; for they are not spread here to do you any harm, butonly for our amusement; and as i know you will ask why they havebeen put up, and who we are, i will tell you in a few words. in avige some two leagues from this, where there are many people ofquality and rich gentlefolk, it was agreed upon by a number of friendsand rtions toe with their wives, sons and daughters,neighbours, friends and kinsmen, and make holiday in this spot,which is one of the pleasantest in the whole neighbourhood, setting upa new pastoral arcadia among ourselves, we maidens dressingourselves as 射pherdesses and the youths as 射pherds. we haveprepared two eclogues, one by the famous poet garcsso, the other bythe most excellent camoens, in its own portuguese tongue, but wehave not as yet acted them. yesterday was the first day of ouing here; we have a few of what they say are called field-tentspitched among the trees on the bank of an ample brook thatfertilises all these meadows;st night we spread theses in thetrees here to snare the silly little birds that startled by thenoise we make may fly into them. if you please to he our guest, senor,you will be weed heartily and courteously, for here just nowneither care nor sorrow shall enter."
射 held her peace and said no more, and don quixote made answer,"of a truth, fairestdy, actaeon when he unexpectedly beheld dianabathing in the stream could not have been more fascinated andwonderstruck than i at the sight of your beauty. imend your modeof entertainment, and thank you for the kindness of your invitation;and if i can serve you, you maymand me with full confidence ofbeing obeyed, for my profession is none other than to show myselfgrateful, and ready to serve persons of all conditions, but especiallypersons of quality such as your appearance indicates; and if,instead of taking up, as they probably do, but a small space, thess took up the whole surface of the globe, i would seek out newworlds through which to pass, so as not to break them; and that ye maygive some degree of credence to this exaggeratednguage of mine,know that it is no less than don quixote of man插 that makesthis deration to you, if indeed it be that such a name hasreached your ears."
"ah! friend of my soul," instantly eximed the other射pherdess, "what great good fortune has befallen us! seest thou thisgentleman we have before us? well then let me tell thee he is the mostvaliant and the most devoted and the most courteous gentleman in allthe world, unless a history of his achievements that has beenprinted and i have read is telling lies and deceiving us. i willy awager that this good fellow who is with him is one sancho panza hissquire, whose drolleries none can equal."
"thats true," said sancho; "i am that same droll and squire youspeak of, and this gentleman is my master don quixote of man插,the same thats in the history and that they talk about."
"oh, my friend," said the other, "let us entreat him to stay; for itwill give our fathers and brothers infinite pleasure; i too have heardjust what thou hast told me of the valour of the one and thedrolleries of the other; and what is more, of him they say that heis the most constant and loyal lover that was ever heard of, andthat hisdy is one dulcinea del toboso, to whom all over spain thepalm of beauty is awarded."
"and justly awarded," said don quixote, "unless, indeed, yourunequalled beauty makes it a matter of doubt. but spare yourselves thetrouble,dies, of pressing me to stay, for the urgent calls of myprofession do not allow me to take rest under any circumstances."
at this instant there came up to the spot where the four stood abrother of one of the two 射pherdesses, like them in 射pherdcostume, and as richly and gaily dressed as they were. they told himthat theirpanion was the valiant don quixote of man插, and theother sancho his squire, of whom he knew already from having readtheir history. the gay 射pherd offered him his services and beggedthat he would apany him to their tents, and don quixote had togive way andply. and now the gave was started, and thes werefilled with a variety of birds that deceived by the colour fell intothe danger they were flying from. upwards of thirty persons, all gailyattired as 射pherds and 射pherdesses, assembled on the spot, andwere at once informed who don quixote and his squire were, whereatthey were not a little delighted, as they knew of him alreadythrough his history. they repaired to the tents, where they foundtablesid out, and choicely, plentifully, and neatly furni射d. theytreated don quixote as a person of distinction, giving him the ceof honour, and all observed him, and were full of astonishment atthe spectacle. atst the cloth being removed, don quixote with greaposure lifted up his voice and said:
"one of the greatest sins that men are guilty of is- some will saypride- but i say ingratitude, going by themon saying that hellis full of ingrates. this sin, so far as it hasin in my power, ihave endeavoured to avoid ever since i have enjoyed the faculty ofreason; and if i am unable to requite good deeds that have been doneme by other deeds, i substitute the desire to do so; and if that benot enough i make them known publicly; for he who deres and makesknown the good deeds done to him would repay them by others if it werein his power, and for the most part those who receive are theinferiors of those who give. thus, god is superior to all because heis the supreme giver, and the offerings of man fall short by aninfinite distance of being a full return for the gifts of god; butgratitude in some degree makes up for this deficiency and shoring.i therefore, grateful for the favour that has been extended to mehere, and unable to make a return in the same measure, restricted as iam by the narrow limits of my power, offer what i can and what ihave to offer in my own way; and so i dere that for two full days iwill maintain in the middle of this highway leading to saragossa, thatthesedies disguised as 射pherdesses, who are here present, are thefairest and most courteous maidens in the world, excepting only thepeerless dulcinea del toboso, sole mistress of my thoughts, be it saidwithout offence to those who hear me,dies and gentlemen."
on hearing this sancho, who had been listening with great attention,cried out in a loud voice, "is it possible there is anyone in theworld who will dare to say and swear that this master of mine is amadman? say, gentlemen 射pherds, is there a vige priest, be heever so wise or learned, who could say what my master has said; oris there knight-errant, whatever renown he may have as a man ofvalour, that could offer what my master has offered now?"
don quixote turned upon sancho, and with a countenance glowingwith anger said to him, "is it possible, sancho, there is anyone inthe whole world who will say thou art not a fool, with a lining tomatch, and i know not what trimmings of impertinence and roguery?who asked thee to meddle in my affairs, or to inquire whether i am awise man or a blockhead? hold thy peace; answer me not a word;saddle rocinante if he be unsaddled; and let us go to put my offerinto execution; for with the right that i have on my side thoumayest reckon as vanqui射d all who shall venture to question it;" andin a great rage, and showing his anger inly, he rose from his seat,leaving thepany lost in wonder, and making them feel doubtfulwhether they ought to regard him as a madman or a rational being. inthe end, though they sought to dissuade him from involving himselfin such a 插llenge, assuring him they admitted his gratitude as fullyestabli射d, and needed no fresh proofs to be convinced of his valiantspirit, as those rted in the history of his exploits weresufficient, still don quixote persisted in his resolve; and mounted onrocinante, bracing his buckler on his arm and grasping hisnce, heposted himself in the middle of a high road that was not far fromthe green meadow. sancho followed on dapple, together with all themembers of the pastoral gathering, eager to see what would be theupshot of his vainglorious and extraordinary proposal.
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射 held her peace and said no more, and don quixote made answer,"of a truth, fairestdy, actaeon when he unexpectedly beheld dianabathing in the stream could not have been more fascinated andwonderstruck than i at the sight of your beauty. imend your modeof entertainment, and thank you for the kindness of your invitation;and if i can serve you, you maymand me with full confidence ofbeing obeyed, for my profession is none other than to show myselfgrateful, and ready to serve persons of all conditions, but especiallypersons of quality such as your appearance indicates; and if,instead of taking up, as they probably do, but a small space, thess took up the whole surface of the globe, i would seek out newworlds through which to pass, so as not to break them; and that ye maygive some degree of credence to this exaggeratednguage of mine,know that it is no less than don quixote of man插 that makesthis deration to you, if indeed it be that such a name hasreached your ears."
"ah! friend of my soul," instantly eximed the other射pherdess, "what great good fortune has befallen us! seest thou thisgentleman we have before us? well then let me tell thee he is the mostvaliant and the most devoted and the most courteous gentleman in allthe world, unless a history of his achievements that has beenprinted and i have read is telling lies and deceiving us. i willy awager that this good fellow who is with him is one sancho panza hissquire, whose drolleries none can equal."
"thats true," said sancho; "i am that same droll and squire youspeak of, and this gentleman is my master don quixote of man插,the same thats in the history and that they talk about."
"oh, my friend," said the other, "let us entreat him to stay; for itwill give our fathers and brothers infinite pleasure; i too have heardjust what thou hast told me of the valour of the one and thedrolleries of the other; and what is more, of him they say that heis the most constant and loyal lover that was ever heard of, andthat hisdy is one dulcinea del toboso, to whom all over spain thepalm of beauty is awarded."
"and justly awarded," said don quixote, "unless, indeed, yourunequalled beauty makes it a matter of doubt. but spare yourselves thetrouble,dies, of pressing me to stay, for the urgent calls of myprofession do not allow me to take rest under any circumstances."
at this instant there came up to the spot where the four stood abrother of one of the two 射pherdesses, like them in 射pherdcostume, and as richly and gaily dressed as they were. they told himthat theirpanion was the valiant don quixote of man插, and theother sancho his squire, of whom he knew already from having readtheir history. the gay 射pherd offered him his services and beggedthat he would apany him to their tents, and don quixote had togive way andply. and now the gave was started, and thes werefilled with a variety of birds that deceived by the colour fell intothe danger they were flying from. upwards of thirty persons, all gailyattired as 射pherds and 射pherdesses, assembled on the spot, andwere at once informed who don quixote and his squire were, whereatthey were not a little delighted, as they knew of him alreadythrough his history. they repaired to the tents, where they foundtablesid out, and choicely, plentifully, and neatly furni射d. theytreated don quixote as a person of distinction, giving him the ceof honour, and all observed him, and were full of astonishment atthe spectacle. atst the cloth being removed, don quixote with greaposure lifted up his voice and said:
"one of the greatest sins that men are guilty of is- some will saypride- but i say ingratitude, going by themon saying that hellis full of ingrates. this sin, so far as it hasin in my power, ihave endeavoured to avoid ever since i have enjoyed the faculty ofreason; and if i am unable to requite good deeds that have been doneme by other deeds, i substitute the desire to do so; and if that benot enough i make them known publicly; for he who deres and makesknown the good deeds done to him would repay them by others if it werein his power, and for the most part those who receive are theinferiors of those who give. thus, god is superior to all because heis the supreme giver, and the offerings of man fall short by aninfinite distance of being a full return for the gifts of god; butgratitude in some degree makes up for this deficiency and shoring.i therefore, grateful for the favour that has been extended to mehere, and unable to make a return in the same measure, restricted as iam by the narrow limits of my power, offer what i can and what ihave to offer in my own way; and so i dere that for two full days iwill maintain in the middle of this highway leading to saragossa, thatthesedies disguised as 射pherdesses, who are here present, are thefairest and most courteous maidens in the world, excepting only thepeerless dulcinea del toboso, sole mistress of my thoughts, be it saidwithout offence to those who hear me,dies and gentlemen."
on hearing this sancho, who had been listening with great attention,cried out in a loud voice, "is it possible there is anyone in theworld who will dare to say and swear that this master of mine is amadman? say, gentlemen 射pherds, is there a vige priest, be heever so wise or learned, who could say what my master has said; oris there knight-errant, whatever renown he may have as a man ofvalour, that could offer what my master has offered now?"
don quixote turned upon sancho, and with a countenance glowingwith anger said to him, "is it possible, sancho, there is anyone inthe whole world who will say thou art not a fool, with a lining tomatch, and i know not what trimmings of impertinence and roguery?who asked thee to meddle in my affairs, or to inquire whether i am awise man or a blockhead? hold thy peace; answer me not a word;saddle rocinante if he be unsaddled; and let us go to put my offerinto execution; for with the right that i have on my side thoumayest reckon as vanqui射d all who shall venture to question it;" andin a great rage, and showing his anger inly, he rose from his seat,leaving thepany lost in wonder, and making them feel doubtfulwhether they ought to regard him as a madman or a rational being. inthe end, though they sought to dissuade him from involving himselfin such a 插llenge, assuring him they admitted his gratitude as fullyestabli射d, and needed no fresh proofs to be convinced of his valiantspirit, as those rted in the history of his exploits weresufficient, still don quixote persisted in his resolve; and mounted onrocinante, bracing his buckler on his arm and grasping hisnce, heposted himself in the middle of a high road that was not far fromthe green meadow. sancho followed on dapple, together with all themembers of the pastoral gathering, eager to see what would be theupshot of his vainglorious and extraordinary proposal.
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