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bread eaten and the company dispersed。' Nay； I come of no ungrateful
stock； for all the world knows； but particularly my own town； who
the Panzas from whom I am descended were； and； what is more； I know
and have learned； by many good words and deeds； your worship's
desire to show me favour； and if I have been bargaining more or less
about my wages； it was only to please my wife； who； when she sets
herself to press a point； no hammer drives the hoops of a cask as
she drives one to do what she wants； but； after all； a man must be a
man； and a woman a woman； and as I am a man anyhow； which I can't
deny； I will be one in my own house too； let who will take it amiss；
and so there's nothing more to do but for your worship to make your
will with its codicil in such a way that it can't be provoked； and let
us set out at once； to save Senor Samson's soul from suffering； as
he says his conscience obliges him to persuade your worship to sally
out upon the world a third time； so I offer again to serve your
worship faithfully and loyally； as well and better than all the
squires that served knights…errant in times past or present。〃
The bachelor was filled with amazement when he heard Sancho's
phraseology and style of talk； for though he had read the first part
of his master's history he never thought that he could be so droll
as he was there described； but now； hearing him talk of a 〃will and
codicil that could not be provoked；〃 instead of 〃will and codicil that
could not be revoked；〃 he believed all he had read of him； and set him
down as one of the greatest simpletons of modern times； and he said to
himself that two such lunatics as master and man the world had never
seen。 In fine； Don Quixote and Sancho embraced one another and made
friends； and by the advice and with the approval of the great
Carrasco； who was now their oracle； it was arranged that their
departure should take place three days thence； by which time they
could have all that was requisite for the journey ready； and procure a
closed helmet； which Don Quixote said he must by all means take。
Samson offered him one； as he knew a friend of his who had it would
not refuse it to him； though it was more dingy with rust and mildew
than bright and clean like burnished steel。
The curses which both housekeeper and niece poured out on the
bachelor were past counting； they tore their hair； they clawed their
faces； and in the style of the hired mourners that were once in
fashion； they raised a lamentation over the departure of their
master and uncle； as if it had been his death。 Samson's intention in
persuading him to sally forth once more was to do what the history
relates farther on； all by the advice of the curate and barber； with
whom he had previously discussed the subject。 Finally； then； during
those three days； Don Quixote and Sancho provided themselves with what
they considered necessary； and Sancho having pacified his wife； and
Don Quixote his niece and housekeeper； at nightfall； unseen by
anyone except the bachelor； who thought fit to accompany them half a
league out of the village； they set out for El Toboso； Don Quixote
on his good Rocinante and Sancho on his old Dapple； his alforjas
furnished with certain matters in the way of victuals； and his purse
with money that Don Quixote gave him to meet emergencies。 Samson
embraced him； and entreated him to let him hear of his good or evil
fortunes； so that he might rejoice over the former or condole with him
over the latter； as the laws of friendship required。 Don Quixote
promised him he would do so； and Samson returned to the village； and
the other two took the road for the great city of El Toboso。
CHAPTER VIII
WHEREIN IS RELATED WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE ON HIS WAY TO SEE HIS
LADY DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO
〃BLESSED be Allah the all…powerful！〃 says Hamete Benengeli on
beginning this eighth chapter； 〃blessed be Allah！〃 he repeats three
times； and he says he utters these thanksgivings at seeing that he has
now got Don Quixote and Sancho fairly afield； and that the readers
of his delightful history may reckon that the achievements and humours
of Don Quixote and his squire are now about to begin； and he urges
them to forget the former chivalries of the ingenious gentleman and to
fix their eyes on those that are to come； which now begin on the
road to El Toboso； as the others began on the plains of Montiel； nor
is it much that he asks in consideration of all he promises； and so he
goes on to say：
Don Quixote and Sancho were left alone； and the moment Samson took
his departure； Rocinante began to neigh； and Dapple to sigh； which； by
both knight and squire； was accepted as a good sign and a very happy
omen； though； if the truth is to be told； the sighs and brays of
Dapple were louder than the neighings of the hack； from which Sancho
inferred that his good fortune was to exceed and overtop that of his
master； building； perhaps； upon some judicial astrology that he may
have known； though the history says nothing about it； all that can
be said is； that when he stumbled or fell； he was heard to say he
wished he had not come out； for by stumbling or falling there was
nothing to be got but a damaged shoe or a broken rib； and； fool as
he was； he was not much astray in this。
Said Don Quixote； 〃Sancho； my friend； night is drawing on upon us as
we go； and more darkly than will allow us to reach El Toboso by
daylight； for there I am resolved to go before I engage in another
adventure； and there I shall obtain the blessing and generous
permission of the peerless Dulcinea； with which permission I expect
and feel assured that I shall conclude and bring to a happy
termination every perilous adventure； for nothing in life makes
knights…errant more valorous than finding themselves favoured by their
ladies。〃
〃So I believe；〃 replied Sancho； 〃but I think it will be difficult
for your worship to speak with her or see her； at any rate where you
will be able to receive her blessing； unless； indeed； she throws it
over the wall of the yard where I saw her the time before； when I took
her the letter that told of the follies and mad things your worship
was doing in the heart of Sierra Morena。〃
〃Didst thou take that for a yard wall； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃where or at which thou sawest that never sufficiently extolled
grace and beauty？ It must have been the gallery； corridor； or
portico of some rich and royal palace。〃
〃It might have been all that；〃 returned Sancho； 〃but to me it looked
like a wall； unless I am short of memory。〃
〃At all events； let us go there； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for； so
that I see her； it is the same to me whether it be over a wall； or
at a window； or through the chink of a door； or the grate of a garden；
for any beam of the sun of her beauty that reaches my eyes will give
light to my reason and strength to my heart； so that I shall be
unmatched and unequalled in wisdom and valour。〃
〃Well； to tell the truth； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃when I saw that
sun of the lady Dulcinea del Toboso； it was not bright enough to throw
out beams at all； it must have been； that as her grace was sifting
that wheat I told you of； the thick dust she raised came before her
face like a cloud and dimmed it。〃
〃What！ dost thou still persist； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃in
saying； thinking； believing； and maintaining that my lady Dulcinea was
sifting wheat； that being an occupation and task entirely at
variance with what is and should be the employment of persons of
distinction； who are constituted and reserved for other avocations and
pursuits that show their rank a bowshot off？ Thou hast forgotten； O
Sancho； those lines of our poet wherein he paints for us how； in their
crystal abodes； those four nymphs employed themselves who rose from
their loved Tagus and seated themselves in a verdant meadow to
embroider those tissues which the ingenious poet there describes to
us； how they were worked and woven with gold and silk and pearls；
and something of this sort must have been the employment of my lady
when thou sawest her； only that the spite which some wicked
enchanter seems to have against everything of mine changes all those
things that give me pleasure； and turns them into shapes unlike
their own； and so I fear that in that history of my achievements which
they say is now in print； if haply its author was some sage who is
an enemy of mine； he will have put one thing for another； mingling a
thousand lies with one truth； and amusing himself by relating
transactions which have nothing to do with the sequence of a true
history。 O envy； root of all countless evils； and cankerworm of the
virtues！ All the vices； Sancho； bring some kind of pleasure with them；
but envy brings nothing but irritation； bitterness； and rage。〃
〃So I say too；〃 replied Sancho； 〃and I suspect in that legend or
history of us that the bachelor Samson Carrasco told us he saw； my
honour goes dragged in the dirt； knocked about； up and down；
sweeping the streets； as they say。 And yet； on the faith of an
honest man； I never spoke ill of any enchanter； and I am not so well
off that I am to be envied； to be sure； I am rather sly； and I have
a certain spice