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estimation；〃 and so saying he brought his legs to bear on Rocinante…
for he had no spurs… and at a full canter （for in all this veracious
history we never read of Rocinante fairly galloping） set off to
encounter the penitents； though the curate； the canon； and the
barber ran to prevent him。 But it was out of their power； nor did he
even stop for the shouts of Sancho calling after him； 〃Where are you
going； Senor Don Quixote？ What devils have possessed you to set you on
against our Catholic faith？ Plague take me！ mind； that is a procession
of penitents； and the lady they are carrying on that stand there is
the blessed image of the immaculate Virgin。 Take care what you are
doing； senor； for this time it may be safely said you don't know
what you are about。〃 Sancho laboured in vain； for his master was so
bent on coming to quarters with these sheeted figures and releasing
the lady in black that he did not hear a word； and even had he
heard； he would not have turned back if the king had ordered him。 He
came up with the procession and reined in Rocinante； who was already
anxious enough to slacken speed a little； and in a hoarse； excited
voice he exclaimed； 〃You who hide your faces； perhaps because you
are not good subjects； pay attention and listen to what I am about
to say to you。〃 The first to halt were those who were carrying the
image； and one of the four ecclesiastics who were chanting the Litany；
struck by the strange figure of Don Quixote； the leanness of
Rocinante； and the other ludicrous peculiarities he observed； said
in reply to him； 〃Brother； if you have anything to say to us say it
quickly； for these brethren are whipping themselves； and we cannot
stop； nor is it reasonable we should stop to hear anything； unless
indeed it is short enough to be said in two words。〃
〃I will say it in one；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and it is this； that
at once； this very instant； ye release that fair lady whose tears
and sad aspect show plainly that ye are carrying her off against her
will； and that ye have committed some scandalous outrage against
her； and I； who was born into the world to redress all such like
wrongs； will not permit you to advance another step until you have
restored to her the liberty she pines for and deserves。〃
From these words all the hearers concluded that he must be a madman；
and began to laugh heartily； and their laughter acted like gunpowder
on Don Quixote's fury； for drawing his sword without another word he
made a rush at the stand。 One of those who supported it； leaving the
burden to his comrades； advanced to meet him； flourishing a forked
stick that he had for propping up the stand when resting； and with
this he caught a mighty cut Don Quixote made at him that severed it in
two； but with the portion that remained in his hand he dealt such a
thwack on the shoulder of Don Quixote's sword arm （which the buckler
could not protect against the clownish assault） that poor Don
Quixote came to the ground in a sad plight。
Sancho Panza； who was coming on close behind puffing and blowing；
seeing him fall； cried out to his assailant not to strike him again；
for he was poor enchanted knight； who had never harmed anyone all
the days of his life； but what checked the clown was； not Sancho's
shouting； but seeing that Don Quixote did not stir hand or foot； and
so； fancying he had killed him； he hastily hitched up his tunic
under his girdle and took to his heels across the country like a deer。
By this time all Don Quixote's companions had come up to where he
lay； but the processionists seeing them come running； and with them
the officers of the Brotherhood with their crossbows； apprehended
mischief； and clustering round the image； raised their hoods； and
grasped their scourges； as the priests did their tapers； and awaited
the attack； resolved to defend themselves and even to take the
offensive against their assailants if they could。 Fortune； however；
arranged the matter better than they expected； for all Sancho did
was to fling himself on his master's body； raising over him the most
doleful and laughable lamentation that ever was heard； for he believed
he was dead。 The curate was known to another curate who walked in
the procession； and their recognition of one another set at rest the
apprehensions of both parties； the first then told the other in two
words who Don Quixote was； and he and the whole troop of penitents
went to see if the poor gentleman was dead； and heard Sancho Panza
saying； with tears in his eyes； 〃Oh flower of chivalry； that with
one blow of a stick hast ended the course of thy well…spent life！ Oh
pride of thy race； honour and glory of all La Mancha； nay； of all
the world； that for want of thee will be full of evil…doers； no longer
in fear of punishment for their misdeeds！ Oh thou； generous above
all the Alexanders； since for only eight months of service thou hast
given me the best island the sea girds or surrounds！ Humble with the
proud； haughty with the humble； encounterer of dangers； endurer of
outrages； enamoured without reason； imitator of the good； scourge of
the wicked； enemy of the mean； in short； knight…errant； which is all
that can be said！〃
At the cries and moans of Sancho； Don Quixote came to himself； and
the first word he said was； 〃He who lives separated from you； sweetest
Dulcinea； has greater miseries to endure than these。 Aid me； friend
Sancho； to mount the enchanted cart； for I am not in a condition to
press the saddle of Rocinante； as this shoulder is all knocked to
pieces。〃
〃That I will do with all my heart； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃and let
us return to our village with these gentlemen； who seek your good； and
there we will prepare for making another sally； which may turn out
more profitable and creditable to us。〃
〃Thou art right； Sancho；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃It will be wise
to let the malign influence of the stars which now prevails pass off。〃
The canon； the curate； and the barber told him he would act very
wisely in doing as he said； and so； highly amused at Sancho Panza's
simplicities； they placed Don Quixote in the cart as before。 The
procession once more formed itself in order and proceeded on its road；
the goatherd took his leave of the party； the officers of the
Brotherhood declined to go any farther； and the curate paid them
what was due to them； the canon begged the curate to let him know
how Don Quixote did； whether he was cured of his madness or still
suffered from it； and then begged leave to continue his journey； in
short； they all separated and went their ways； leaving to themselves
the curate and the barber； Don Quixote； Sancho Panza； and the good
Rocinante； who regarded everything with as great resignation as his
master。 The carter yoked his oxen and made Don Quixote comfortable
on a truss of hay； and at his usual deliberate pace took the road
the curate directed； and at the end of six days they reached Don
Quixote's village； and entered it about the middle of the day； which
it so happened was a Sunday； and the people were all in the plaza；
through which Don Quixote's cart passed。 They all flocked to see
what was in the cart； and when they recognised their townsman they
were filled with amazement； and a boy ran off to bring the news to his
housekeeper and his niece that their master and uncle had come back
all lean and yellow and stretched on a truss of hay on an ox…cart。
It was piteous to hear the cries the two good ladies raised； how
they beat their breasts and poured out fresh maledictions on those
accursed books of chivalry； all which was renewed when they saw Don
Quixote coming in at the gate。
At the news of Don Quixote's arrival Sancho Panza's wife came
running； for she by this time knew that her husband had gone away with
him as his squire； and on seeing Sancho； the first thing she asked him
was if the ass was well。 Sancho replied that he was； better than his
master was。
〃Thanks be to God；〃 said she； 〃for being so good to me； but now tell
me； my friend； what have you made by your squirings？ What gown have
you brought me back？ What shoes for your children？〃
〃I bring nothing of that sort； wife；〃 said Sancho； 〃though I bring
other things of more consequence and value。〃
〃I am very glad of that；〃 returned his wife； 〃show me these things
of more value and consequence； my friend； for I want to see them to
cheer my heart that has been so sad and heavy all these ages that
you have been away。〃
〃I will show them to you at home； wife；〃 said Sancho； 〃be content
for the present； for if it please God that we should again go on our
travels in search of adventures； you will soon see me a count； or
governor of an island； and that not one of those everyday ones； but
the best that is to be had。〃
〃Heaven grant it； husband；〃 said she； 〃for indeed we have need of
it。 But tell me； what's this about islands； for I don't understand
it？〃
〃Honey is not for the mouth of the ass；〃 returned Sancho； 〃all in
good time thou shalt see； wife… nay； thou wilt be surprised to hear
thyself called 'your ladyship' by all thy vassals。〃
〃What are you talking about； Sancho； with your ladyships； islands；
and vassals？〃 returned Teresa Panza… for so Sancho's