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the Sierra Morena on behalf of Dulcinea； so he hastened their
departure； which they took at once； and two miles out of the village
they found a forest or thicket wherein Don Quixote ensconced
himself； while Sancho returned to the city to speak to Dulcinea； in
which embassy things befell him which demand fresh attention and a new
chapter。
CHAPTER X
WHEREIN IS RELATED THE CRAFTY DEVICE SANCHO ADOPTED TO ENCHANT THE
LADY DULCINEA； AND OTHER INCIDENTS AS LUDICROUS AS THEY ARE TRUE
WHEN the author of this great history comes to relate what is set
down in this chapter he says he would have preferred to pass it over
in silence； fearing it would not he believed； because here Don
Quixote's madness reaches the confines of the greatest that can be
conceived； and even goes a couple of bowshots beyond the greatest。 But
after all； though still under the same fear and apprehension； he has
recorded it without adding to the story or leaving out a particle of
the truth； and entirely disregarding the charges of falsehood that
might be brought against him； and he was right； for the truth may
run fine but will not break； and always rises above falsehood as oil
above water； and so； going on with his story； he says that as soon
as Don Quixote had ensconced himself in the forest； oak grove； or wood
near El Toboso； he bade Sancho return to the city； and not come into
his presence again without having first spoken on his behalf to his
lady； and begged of her that it might be her good pleasure to permit
herself to be seen by her enslaved knight； and deign to bestow her
blessing upon him； so that he might thereby hope for a happy issue
in all his encounters and difficult enterprises。 Sancho undertook to
execute the task according to the instructions； and to bring back an
answer as good as the one he brought back before。
〃Go； my son；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and be not dazed when thou
findest thyself exposed to the light of that sun of beauty thou art
going to seek。 Happy thou； above all the squires in the world！ Bear in
mind； and let it not escape thy memory； how she receives thee； if
she changes colour while thou art giving her my message； if she is
agitated and disturbed at hearing my name； if she cannot rest upon her
cushion； shouldst thou haply find her seated in the sumptuous state
chamber proper to her rank； and should she be standing； observe if she
poises herself now on one foot； now on the other； if she repeats two
or three times the reply she gives thee； if she passes from gentleness
to austerity； from asperity to tenderness； if she raises her hand to
smooth her hair though it be not disarranged。 In short； my son；
observe all her actions and motions； for if thou wilt report them to
me as they were； I will gather what she hides in the recesses of her
heart as regards my love； for I would have thee know； Sancho； if
thou knowest it not； that with lovers the outward actions and
motions they give way to when their loves are in question are the
faithful messengers that carry the news of what is going on in the
depths of their hearts。 Go； my friend； may better fortune than mine
attend thee； and bring thee a happier issue than that which I await in
dread in this dreary solitude。〃
〃I will go and return quickly；〃 said Sancho； 〃cheer up that little
heart of yours； master mine； for at the present moment you seem to
have got one no bigger than a hazel nut； remember what they say；
that a stout heart breaks bad luck； and that where there are no
fletches there are no pegs； and moreover they say； the hare jumps up
where it's not looked for。 I say this because； if we could not find my
lady's palaces or castles to…night； now that it is daylight I count
upon finding them when I least expect it； and once found； leave it
to me to manage her。〃
〃Verily； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃thou dost always bring in thy
proverbs happily； whatever we deal with； may God give me better luck
in what I am anxious about。〃
With this； Sancho wheeled about and gave Dapple the stick； and Don
Quixote remained behind； seated on his horse； resting in his
stirrups and leaning on the end of his lance； filled with sad and
troubled forebodings； and there we will leave him； and accompany
Sancho； who went off no less serious and troubled than he left his
master； so much so； that as soon as he had got out of the thicket； and
looking round saw that Don Quixote was not within sight； he dismounted
from his ass； and seating himself at the foot of a tree began to
commune with himself； saying； 〃Now； brother Sancho； let us know
where your worship is going。 Are you going to look for some ass that
has been lost？ Not at all。 Then what are you going to look for？ I am
going to look for a princess； that's all； and in her for the sun of
beauty and the whole heaven at once。 And where do you expect to find
all this； Sancho？ Where？ Why； in the great city of El Toboso。 Well；
and for whom are you going to look for her？ For the famous knight
Don Quixote of La Mancha； who rights wrongs； gives food to those who
thirst and drink to the hungry。 That's all very well； but do you
know her house； Sancho？ My master says it will be some royal palace or
grand castle。 And have you ever seen her by any chance？ Neither I
nor my master ever saw her。 And does it strike you that it would be
just and right if the El Toboso people； finding out that you were here
with the intention of going to tamper with their princesses and
trouble their ladies； were to come and cudgel your ribs； and not leave
a whole bone in you？ They would； indeed； have very good reason； if
they did not see that I am under orders； and that 'you are a
messenger； my friend； no blame belongs to you。' Don't you trust to
that； Sancho； for the Manchegan folk are as hot…tempered as they are
honest； and won't put up with liberties from anybody。 By the Lord；
if they get scent of you； it will be worse for you； I promise you。
Be off； you scoundrel！ Let the bolt fall。 Why should I go looking
for three feet on a cat； to please another man； and what is more； when
looking for Dulcinea will be looking for Marica in Ravena； or the
bachelor in Salamanca？ The devil； the devil and nobody else； has mixed
me up in this business！〃
Such was the soliloquy Sancho held with himself； and all the
conclusion he could come to was to say to himself again； 〃Well；
there's remedy for everything except death； under whose yoke we have
all to pass； whether we like it or not； when life's finished。 I have
seen by a thousand signs that this master of mine is a madman fit to
be tied； and for that matter； I too； am not behind him； for I'm a
greater fool than he is when I follow him and serve him； if there's
any truth in the proverb that says； 'Tell me what company thou
keepest； and I'll tell thee what thou art；' or in that other； 'Not
with whom thou art bred； but with whom thou art fed。' Well then； if he
be mad； as he is； and with a madness that mostly takes one thing for
another； and white for black； and black for white； as was seen when he
said the windmills were giants； and the monks' mules dromedaries；
flocks of sheep armies of enemies； and much more to the same tune；
it will not be very hard to make him believe that some country girl；
the first I come across here； is the lady Dulcinea； and if he does not
believe it； I'll swear it； and if he should swear； I'll swear again；
and if he persists I'll persist still more； so as； come what may； to
have my quoit always over the peg。 Maybe； by holding out in this
way； I may put a stop to his sending me on messages of this kind
another time； or maybe he will think； as I suspect he will； that one
of those wicked enchanters； who he says have a spite against him；
has changed her form for the sake of doing him an ill turn and
injuring him。〃
With this reflection Sancho made his mind easy； counting the
business as good as settled； and stayed there till the afternoon so as
to make Don Quixote think he had time enough to go to El Toboso and
return； and things turned out so luckily for him that as he got up
to mount Dapple； he spied； coming from El Toboso towards the spot
where he stood； three peasant girls on three colts； or fillies… for
the author does not make the point clear； though it is more likely
they were she…asses； the usual mount with village girls； but as it
is of no great consequence； we need not stop to prove it。
To be brief； the instant Sancho saw the peasant girls； he returned
full speed to seek his master； and found him sighing and uttering a
thousand passionate lamentations。 When Don Quixote saw him he
exclaimed； 〃What news； Sancho； my friend？ Am I to mark this day with a
white stone or a black？〃
〃Your worship；〃 replied Sancho； 〃had better mark it with ruddle；
like the inscriptions on the walls of class rooms； that those who
see it may see it plain。〃
〃Then thou bringest good news；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃So good；〃 replied Sancho； 〃that your worship bas only to spur
Rocinante and get out into the open field to see the lady Dulcinea del
Toboso； who； with two others； damsels of hers； is coming to see your
worship。〃
〃Holy God！ what art thou saying； Sancho； my friend？〃 exclaimed Don
Quixote。 〃Take care thou