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Mancha； but some one else in his likeness； just as I confess and
believe that you； though you seem to be the bachelor Samson
Carrasco； are not so； but some other resembling him； whom my enemies
have here put before me in his shape； in order that I may restrain and
moderate the vehemence of my wrath； and make a gentle use of the glory
of my victory。〃
〃I confess； hold； and think everything to be as you believe； hold；
and think it；〃 the crippled knight； 〃let me rise； I entreat you； if；
indeed； the shock of my fall will allow me； for it has left me in a
sorry plight enough。〃
Don Quixote helped him to rise； with the assistance of his squire
Tom Cecial； from whom Sancho never took his eyes； and to whom he put
questions； the replies to which furnished clear proof that he was
really and truly the Tom Cecial he said； but the impression made on
Sancho's mind by what his master said about the enchanters having
changed the face of the Knight of the Mirrors into that of the
bachelor Samson Carrasco； would not permit him to believe what he
saw with his eyes。 In fine； both master and man remained under the
delusion； and； down in the mouth； and out of luck； he of the Mirrors
and his squire parted from Don Quixote and Sancho； he meaning to go
look for some village where he could plaster and strap his ribs。 Don
Quixote and Sancho resumed their journey to Saragossa； and on it the
history leaves them in order that it may tell who the Knight of the
Mirrors and his long…nosed squire were。
CHAPTER XV
WHEREIN IT IS TOLD AND KNOWN WHO THE KNIGHT OF THE MIRRORS AND HIS
SQUIRE WERE
DON QUIXOTE went off satisfied； elated； and vain…glorious in the
highest degree at having won a victory over such a valiant knight as
he fancied him of the Mirrors to be； and one from whose knightly
word he expected to learn whether the enchantment of his lady still
continued； inasmuch as the said vanquished knight was bound； under the
penalty of ceasing to be one； to return and render him an account of
what took place between him and her。 But Don Quixote was of one
mind； he of the Mirrors of another； for he just then had no thought of
anything but finding some village where he could plaster himself； as
has been said already。 The history goes on to say； then； that when the
bachelor Samson Carrasco recommended Don Quixote to resume his
knight…errantry which he had laid aside； it was in consequence of
having been previously in conclave with the curate and the barber on
the means to be adopted to induce Don Quixote to stay at home in peace
and quiet without worrying himself with his ill…starred adventures； at
which consultation it was decided by the unanimous vote of all； and on
the special advice of Carrasco； that Don Quixote should be allowed
to go； as it seemed impossible to restrain him； and that Samson should
sally forth to meet him as a knight…errant； and do battle with him；
for there would be no difficulty about a cause； and vanquish him； that
being looked upon as an easy matter； and that it should be agreed
and settled that the vanquished was to be at the mercy of the
victor。 Then； Don Quixote being vanquished； the bachelor knight was to
command him to return to his village and his house； and not quit it
for two years； or until he received further orders from him； all which
it was clear Don Quixote would unhesitatingly obey； rather than
contravene or fail to observe the laws of chivalry； and during the
period of his seclusion he might perhaps forget his folly； or there
might be an opportunity of discovering some ready remedy for his
madness。 Carrasco undertook the task； and Tom Cecial； a gossip and
neighbour of Sancho Panza's； a lively； feather…headed fellow；
offered himself as his squire。 Carrasco armed himself in the fashion
described； and Tom Cecial； that he might not be known by his gossip
when they met； fitted on over his own natural nose the false
masquerade one that has been mentioned； and so they followed the
same route Don Quixote took； and almost came up with him in time to be
present at the adventure of the cart of Death and finally
encountered them in the grove； where all that the sagacious reader has
been reading about took place； and had it not been for the
extraordinary fancies of Don Quixote； and his conviction that the
bachelor was not the bachelor； senor bachelor would have been
incapacitated for ever from taking his degree of licentiate； all
through not finding nests where he thought to find birds。
Tom Cecial； seeing how ill they had succeeded； and what a sorry
end their expedition had come to； said to the bachelor； 〃Sure
enough； Senor Samson Carrasco； we are served right； it is easy
enough to plan and set about an enterprise； but it is often a
difficult matter to come well out of it。 Don Quixote a madman； and
we sane； he goes off laughing； safe； and sound； and you are left
sore and sorry！ I'd like to know now which is the madder； he who is so
because he cannot help it； or he who is so of his own choice？〃
To which Samson replied； 〃The difference between the two sorts of
madmen is； that he who is so will he nil he； will be one always； while
he who is so of his own accord can leave off being one whenever he
likes。〃
〃In that case；〃 said Tom Cecial； 〃I was a madman of my own accord
when I volunteered to become your squire； and； of my own accord；
I'll leave off being one and go home。〃
〃That's your affair；〃 returned Samson； 〃but to suppose that I am
going home until I have given Don Quixote a thrashing is absurd； and
it is not any wish that he may recover his senses that will make me
hunt him out now； but a wish for the sore pain I am in with my ribs
won't let me entertain more charitable thoughts。〃
Thus discoursing； the pair proceeded until they reached a town where
it was their good luck to find a bone…setter； with whose help the
unfortunate Samson was cured。 Tom Cecial left him and went home； while
he stayed behind meditating vengeance； and the history will return
to him again at the proper time； so as not to omit making merry with
Don Quixote now。
CHAPTER XVI
OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE WITH A DISCREET GENTLEMAN OF LA MANCHA
DON QUIXOTE pursued his journey in the high spirits； satisfaction；
and self…complacency already described； fancying himself the most
valorous knight…errant of the age in the world because of his late
victory。 All the adventures that could befall him from that time forth
he regarded as already done and brought to a happy issue； he made
light of enchantments and enchanters； he thought no more of the
countless drubbings that had been administered to him in the course of
his knight…errantry； nor of the volley of stones that had levelled
half his teeth； nor of the ingratitude of the galley slaves； nor of
the audacity of the Yanguesans and the shower of stakes that fell upon
him； in short； he said to himself that could he discover any means；
mode； or way of disenchanting his lady Dulcinea； he would not envy the
highest fortune that the most fortunate knight…errant of yore ever
reached or could reach。
He was going along entirely absorbed in these fancies； when Sancho
said to him； 〃Isn't it odd； senor； that I have still before my eyes
that monstrous enormous nose of my gossip； Tom Cecial？〃
〃And dost thou； then； believe； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that
the Knight of the Mirrors was the bachelor Carrasco； and his squire
Tom Cecial thy gossip？〃
〃I don't know what to say to that；〃 replied Sancho； 〃all I know is
that the tokens he gave me about my own house； wife and children；
nobody else but himself could have given me； and the face； once the
nose was off； was the very face of Tom Cecial； as I have seen it
many a time in my town and next door to my own house； and the sound of
the voice was just the same。〃
〃Let us reason the matter； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote。 〃Come now；
by what process of thinking can it be supposed that the bachelor
Samson Carrasco would come as a knight…errant； in arms offensive and
defensive； to fight with me？ Have I ever been by any chance his enemy？
Have I ever given him any occasion to owe me a grudge？ Am I his rival；
or does he profess arms； that he should envy the fame I have
acquired in them？〃
〃Well； but what are we to say； senor；〃 returned Sancho； 〃about
that knight； whoever he is； being so like the bachelor Carrasco； and
his squire so like my gossip； Tom Cecial？ And if that be
enchantment； as your worship says； was there no other pair in the
world for them to take the likeness of？〃
〃It is all；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃a scheme and plot of the malignant
magicians that persecute me； who； foreseeing that I was to be
victorious in the conflict； arranged that the vanquished knight should
display the countenance of my friend the bachelor； in order that the
friendship I bear him should interpose to stay the edge of my sword
and might of my arm； and temper the just wrath of my heart； so that he
who sought to take my life by fraud and falsehood should save his own。
And to prove it； thou knowest already； Sancho； by experience which
cannot lie or deceive； how easy it is for enchanters to change one
countenance into another； turning fair into foul； and fou