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bestows on all sort of books； as prince so inclined to favor good
arts； chiefly those who by their nobleness do not submit to the
service and bribery of the vulgar； I have determined bringing to light
The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of la Mancha； in shelter of Your
Excellency's glamorous name； to whom； with the obeisance I owe to such
grandeur； I pray to receive it agreeably under his protection； so that
in this shadow； though deprived of that precious ornament of
elegance and erudition that clothe the works composed in the houses of
those who know； it dares appear with assurance in the judgment of some
who； trespassing the bounds of their own ignorance； use to condemn
with more rigour and less justice the writings of others。 It is my
earnest hope that Your Excellency's good counsel in regard to my
honourable purpose； will not disdain the littleness of so humble a
service。
Miguel de Cervantes
XFIR驗MZ
CHAPTER I
OF THE INTERVIEW THE CURATE AND THE BARBER HAD WITH DON QUIXOTE
ABOUT HIS MALADY
CIDE HAMETE BENENGELI； in the Second Part of this history； and third
sally of Don Quixote； says that the curate and the barber remained
nearly a month without seeing him； lest they should recall or bring
back to his recollection what had taken place。 They did not；
however； omit to visit his niece and housekeeper； and charge them to
be careful to treat him with attention； and give him comforting things
to eat； and such as were good for the heart and the brain； whence；
it was plain to see； all his misfortune proceeded。 The niece and
housekeeper replied that they did so； and meant to do so with all
possible care and assiduity； for they could perceive that their master
was now and then beginning to show signs of being in his right mind。
This gave great satisfaction to the curate and the barber； for they
concluded they had taken the right course in carrying him off
enchanted on the ox…cart； as has been described in the First Part of
this great as well as accurate history； in the last chapter thereof。
So they resolved to pay him a visit and test the improvement in his
condition； although they thought it almost impossible that there could
be any； and they agreed not to touch upon any point connected with
knight…errantry so as not to run the risk of reopening wounds which
were still so tender。
They came to see him consequently； and found him sitting up in bed
in a green baize waistcoat and a red Toledo cap； and so withered and
dried up that he looked as if he had been turned into a mummy。 They
were very cordially received by him； they asked him after his
health； and he talked to them about himself very naturally and in very
well…chosen language。 In the course of their conversation they fell to
discussing what they call State…craft and systems of government；
correcting this abuse and condemning that； reforming one practice
and abolishing another； each of the three setting up for a new
legislator； a modern Lycurgus； or a brand…new Solon； and so completely
did they remodel the State； that they seemed to have thrust it into
a furnace and taken out something quite different from what they had
put in； and on all the subjects they dealt with； Don Quixote spoke
with such good sense that the pair of examiners were fully convinced
that he was quite recovered and in his full senses。
The niece and housekeeper were present at the conversation and could
not find words enough to express their thanks to God at seeing their
master so clear in his mind； the curate； however； changing his
original plan； which was to avoid touching upon matters of chivalry；
resolved to test Don Quixote's recovery thoroughly； and see whether it
were genuine or not； and so； from one subject to another； he came at
last to talk of the news that had come from the capital； and； among
other things； he said it was considered certain that the Turk was
coming down with a powerful fleet； and that no one knew what his
purpose was； or when the great storm would burst； and that all
Christendom was in apprehension of this； which almost every year calls
us to arms； and that his Majesty had made provision for the security
of the coasts of Naples and Sicily and the island of Malta。
To this Don Quixote replied； 〃His Majesty has acted like a prudent
warrior in providing for the safety of his realms in time； so that the
enemy may not find him unprepared； but if my advice were taken I would
recommend him to adopt a measure which at present； no doubt； his
Majesty is very far from thinking of。〃
The moment the curate heard this he said to himself； 〃God keep
thee in his hand； poor Don Quixote； for it seems to me thou art
precipitating thyself from the height of thy madness into the profound
abyss of thy simplicity。〃
But the barber； who had the same suspicion as the curate； asked
Don Quixote what would be his advice as to the measures that he said
ought to be adopted； for perhaps it might prove to be one that would
have to be added to the list of the many impertinent suggestions
that people were in the habit of offering to princes。
〃Mine； master shaver；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃will not be impertinent；
but； on the contrary； pertinent。〃
〃I don't mean that；〃 said the barber； 〃but that experience has shown
that all or most of the expedients which are proposed to his Majesty
are either impossible； or absurd； or injurious to the King and to
the kingdom。〃
〃Mine； however；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃is neither impossible nor
absurd； but the easiest； the most reasonable； the readiest and most
expeditious that could suggest itself to any projector's mind。〃
〃You take a long time to tell it； Senor Don Quixote；〃 said the
curate。
〃I don't choose to tell it here； now；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and have
it reach the ears of the lords of the council to…morrow morning； and
some other carry off the thanks and rewards of my trouble。〃
〃For my part；〃 said the barber； 〃I give my word here and before
God that I will not repeat what your worship says； to King； Rook or
earthly man… an oath I learned from the ballad of the curate； who；
in the prelude； told the king of the thief who had robbed him of the
hundred gold crowns and his pacing mule。〃
〃I am not versed in stories；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but I know the oath
is a good one； because I know the barber to be an honest fellow。〃
〃Even if he were not；〃 said the curate； 〃I will go bail and answer
for him that in this matter he will be as silent as a dummy； under
pain of paying any penalty that may be pronounced。〃
〃And who will be security for you； senor curate？〃 said Don Quixote。
〃My profession；〃 replied the curate； 〃which is to keep secrets。〃
〃Ods body！〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃what more has his Majesty
to do but to command； by public proclamation； all the knights…errant
that are scattered over Spain to assemble on a fixed day in the
capital； for even if no more than half a dozen come； there may be
one among them who alone will suffice to destroy the entire might of
the Turk。 Give me your attention and follow me。 Is it； pray； any new
thing for a single knight…errant to demolish an army of two hundred
thousand men； as if they all had but one throat or were made of
sugar paste？ Nay； tell me； how many histories are there filled with
these marvels？ If only （in an evil hour for me： I don't speak for
anyone else） the famous Don Belianis were alive now； or any one of the
innumerable progeny of Amadis of Gaul！ If any these were alive
today； and were to come face to face with the Turk； by my faith； I
would not give much for the Turk's chance。 But God will have regard
for his people； and will provide some one； who； if not so valiant as
the knights…errant of yore； at least will not be inferior to them in
spirit； but God knows what I mean； and I say no more。〃
〃Alas！〃 exclaimed the niece at this； 〃may I die if my master does
not want to turn knight…errant again；〃 to which Don Quixote replied；
〃A knight…errant I shall die； and let the Turk come down or go up when
he likes； and in as strong force as he can； once more I say； God knows
what I mean。〃 But here the barber said； 〃I ask your worships to give
me leave to tell a short story of something that happened in
Seville； which comes so pat to the purpose just now that I should like
greatly to tell it。〃 Don Quixote gave him leave； and the rest prepared
to listen； and he began thus：
〃In the madhouse at Seville there was a man whom his relations had
placed there as being out of his mind。 He was a graduate of Osuna in
canon law； but even if he had been of Salamanca； it was the opinion of
most people that he would have been mad all the same。 This graduate；
after some years of confinement； took it into his head that he was
sane and in his full senses； and under this impression wrote to the
Archbishop； entreating him earnestly； and in very correct language； to
have him released from the misery in which he was living； for by God's
mercy he had now recovered his lost reason； though his relations； in
order to enjoy his property； kept him there； and； in spite of the
truth； would make him out to be mad until his dying day。 The
Archbishop； moved by repeated s