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his rest after the past frays； and advancing to where he was
sleeping tranquilly； not dreaming of anything of the kind happening；
they seized him firmly and bound him fast hand and foot； so that； when
he awoke startled； he was unable to move； and could only marvel and
wonder at the strange figures he saw before him； upon which he at once
gave way to the idea which his crazed fancy invariably conjured up
before him； and took it into his head that all these shapes were
phantoms of the enchanted castle； and that he himself was
unquestionably enchanted as he could neither move nor help himself；
precisely what the curate； the concoctor of the scheme； expected would
happen。 Of all that were there Sancho was the only one who was at once
in his senses and in his own proper character； and he； though he was
within very little of sharing his master's infirmity； did not fail
to perceive who all these disguised figures were； but he did not
dare to open his lips until he saw what came of this assault and
capture of his master； nor did the latter utter a word； waiting to the
upshot of his mishap； which was that bringing in the cage； they shut
him up in it and nailed the bars so firmly that they could not be
easily burst open。 They then took him on their shoulders； and as
they passed out of the room an awful voice… as much so as the
barber； not he of the pack…saddle but the other； was able to make
it… was heard to say； 〃O Knight of the Rueful Countenance； let not
this captivity in which thou art placed afflict thee； for this must
needs be； for the more speedy accomplishment of the adventure in which
thy great heart has engaged thee； the which shall be accomplished when
the raging Manchegan lion and the white Tobosan dove shall be linked
together； having first humbled their haughty necks to the gentle
yoke of matrimony。 And from this marvellous union shall come forth
to the light of the world brave whelps that shall rival the ravening
claws of their valiant father； and this shall come to pass ere the
pursuer of the flying nymph shall in his swift natural course have
twice visited the starry signs。 And thou； O most noble and obedient
squire that ever bore sword at side； beard on face； or nose to smell
with； be not dismayed or grieved to see the flower of
knight…errantry carried away thus before thy very eyes； for soon； if
it so please the Framer of the universe； thou shalt see thyself
exalted to such a height that thou shalt not know thyself； and the
promises which thy good master has made thee shall not prove false；
and I assure thee； on the authority of the sage Mentironiana； that thy
wages shall be paid thee； as thou shalt see in due season。 Follow then
the footsteps of the valiant enchanted knight； for it is expedient
that thou shouldst go to the destination assigned to both of you；
and as it is not permitted to me to say more； God be with thee； for
I return to that place I wot of；〃 and as he brought the prophecy to
a close he raised his voice to a high pitch； and then lowered it to
such a soft tone； that even those who knew it was all a joke were
almost inclined to take what they heard seriously。
Don Quixote was comforted by the prophecy he heard； for he at once
comprehended its meaning perfectly； and perceived it was promised to
him that he should see himself united in holy and lawful matrimony
with his beloved Dulcinea del Toboso； from whose blessed womb should
proceed the whelps； his sons； to the eternal glory of La Mancha； and
being thoroughly and firmly persuaded of this； he lifted up his voice；
and with a deep sigh exclaimed； 〃Oh thou； whoever thou art； who hast
foretold me so much good； I implore of thee that on my part thou
entreat that sage enchanter who takes charge of my interests； that
he leave me not to perish in this captivity in which they are now
carrying me away； ere I see fulfilled promises so joyful and
incomparable as those which have been now made me； for； let this but
come to pass； and I shall glory in the pains of my prison； find
comfort in these chains wherewith they bind me； and regard this bed
whereon they stretch me； not as a hard battle…field； but as a soft and
happy nuptial couch； and touching the consolation of Sancho Panza；
my squire； I rely upon his goodness and rectitude that he will not
desert me in good or evil fortune； for if； by his ill luck or mine； it
may not happen to be in my power to give him the island I have
promised； or any equivalent for it； at least his wages shall not be
lost； for in my will； which is already made； I have declared the sum
that shall be paid to him； measured； not by his many faithful
services； but by the means at my disposal。〃
Sancho bowed his head very respectfully and kissed both his hands；
for； being tied together； he could not kiss one； and then the
apparitions lifted the cage upon their shoulders and fixed it upon the
ox…cart。
CHAPTER XLVII
OF THE STRANGE MANNER IN WHICH DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA WAS
CARRIED AWAY ENCHANTED； TOGETHER WITH OTHER REMARKABLE INCIDENTS
WHEN Don Quixote saw himself caged and hoisted on the cart in this
way； he said； 〃Many grave histories of knights…errant have I read； but
never yet have I read； seen； or heard of their carrying off
enchanted knights…errant in this fashion； or at the slow pace that
these lazy； sluggish animals promise； for they always take them away
through the air with marvellous swiftness； enveloped in a dark thick
cloud； or on a chariot of fire； or it may be on some hippogriff or
other beast of the kind； but to carry me off like this on an
ox…cart！ By God； it puzzles me！ But perhaps the chivalry and
enchantments of our day take a different course from that of those
in days gone by； and it may be； too； that as I am a new knight in
the world； and the first to revive the already forgotten calling of
knight…adventurers； they may have newly invented other kinds of
enchantments and other modes of carrying off the enchanted。 What
thinkest thou of the matter； Sancho my son？〃
〃I don't know what to think；〃 answered Sancho； 〃not being as well
read as your worship in errant writings； but for all that I venture to
say and swear that these apparitions that are about us are not quite
catholic。〃
〃Catholic！〃 said Don Quixote。 〃Father of me！ how can they be
Catholic when they are all devils that have taken fantastic shapes
to come and do this； and bring me to this condition？ And if thou
wouldst prove it； touch them； and feel them； and thou wilt find they
have only bodies of air； and no consistency except in appearance。〃
〃By God； master；〃 returned Sancho； 〃I have touched them already； and
that devil； that goes about there so busily； has firm flesh； and
another property very different from what I have heard say devils
have； for by all accounts they all smell of brimstone and other bad
smells； but this one smells of amber half a league off。〃 Sancho was
here speaking of Don Fernando； who； like a gentleman of his rank；
was very likely perfumed as Sancho said。
〃Marvel not at that； Sancho my friend；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for let
me tell thee devils are crafty； and even if they do carry odours about
with them； they themselves have no smell； because they are spirits；
or； if they have any smell； they cannot smell of anything sweet； but
of something foul and fetid； and the reason is that as they carry hell
with them wherever they go； and can get no ease whatever from their
torments； and as a sweet smell is a thing that gives pleasure and
enjoyment； it is impossible that they can smell sweet； if； then；
this devil thou speakest of seems to thee to smell of amber； either
thou art deceiving thyself； or he wants to deceive thee by making thee
fancy he is not a devil。〃
Such was the conversation that passed between master and man； and
Don Fernando and Cardenio； apprehensive of Sancho's making a
complete discovery of their scheme； towards which he had already
gone some way； resolved to hasten their departure； and calling the
landlord aside； they directed him to saddle Rocinante and put the
pack…saddle on Sancho's ass； which he did with great alacrity。 In
the meantime the curate had made an arrangement with the officers that
they should bear them company as far as his village； he paying them so
much a day。 Cardenio hung the buckler on one side of the bow of
Rocinante's saddle and the basin on the other； and by signs
commanded Sancho to mount his ass and take Rocinante's bridle； and
at each side of the cart he placed two officers with their muskets；
but before the cart was put in motion； out came the landlady and her
daughter and Maritornes to bid Don Quixote farewell； pretending to
weep with grief at his misfortune； and to them Don Quixote said：
〃Weep not； good ladies； for all these mishaps are the lot of those
who follow the profession I profess； and if these reverses did not
befall me I should not esteem myself a famous knight…errant； for
such things never happen to knights of little renown and fame； because
nobody in the world thinks about them； to valiant knights they do； for
these are envied for their virtue and valour by many princes and other
knights who compass the destruction of the worthy by base means。
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