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time was so gentle that it had not power to stir the leaves on the
trees。 The musicians were the life of the wedding； wandering through
the pleasant grounds in separate bands； some dancing； others
singing； others playing the various instruments already mentioned。
In short； it seemed as though mirth and gaiety were frisking and
gambolling all over the meadow。 Several other persons were engaged
in erecting raised benches from which people might conveniently see
the plays and dances that were to be performed the next day on the
spot dedicated to the celebration of the marriage of Camacho the
rich and the obsequies of Basilio。 Don Quixote would not enter the
village； although the peasant as well as the bachelor pressed him；
he excused himself； however； on the grounds； amply sufficient in his
opinion； that it was the custom of knights…errant to sleep in the
fields and woods in preference to towns； even were it under gilded
ceilings； and so turned aside a little out of the road； very much
against Sancho's will； as the good quarters he had enjoyed in the
castle or house of Don Diego came back to his mind。
CHAPTER XX
WHEREIN AN ACCOUNT IS GIVEN OF THE WEDDING OF CAMACHO THE RICH；
TOGETHER WITH THE INCIDENT OF BASILIO THE POOR
SCARCE had the fair Aurora given bright Phoebus time to dry the
liquid pearls upon her golden locks with the heat of his fervent rays；
when Don Quixote； shaking off sloth from his limbs； sprang to his feet
and called to his squire Sancho； who was still snoring； seeing which
Don Quixote ere he roused him thus addressed him： 〃Happy thou； above
all the dwellers on the face of the earth； that； without envying or
being envied； sleepest with tranquil mind； and that neither enchanters
persecute nor enchantments affright。 Sleep； I say； and will say a
hundred times； without any jealous thoughts of thy mistress to make
thee keep ceaseless vigils； or any cares as to how thou art to pay the
debts thou owest； or find to…morrow's food for thyself and thy needy
little family； to interfere with thy repose。 Ambition breaks not thy
rest； nor doth this world's empty pomp disturb thee； for the utmost
reach of thy anxiety is to provide for thy ass； since upon my
shoulders thou hast laid the support of thyself； the counterpoise
and burden that nature and custom have imposed upon masters。 The
servant sleeps and the master lies awake thinking how he is to feed
him； advance him； and reward him。 The distress of seeing the sky
turn brazen； and withhold its needful moisture from the earth； is
not felt by the servant but by the master； who in time of scarcity and
famine must support him who has served him in times of plenty and
abundance。〃
To all this Sancho made no reply because he was asleep； nor would he
have wakened up so soon as he did had not Don Quixote brought him to
his senses with the butt of his lance。 He awoke at last； drowsy and
lazy； and casting his eyes about in every direction； observed；
〃There comes； if I don't mistake； from the quarter of that arcade a
steam and a smell a great deal more like fried rashers than
galingale or thyme； a wedding that begins with smells like that； by my
faith； ought to be plentiful and unstinting。〃
〃Have done； thou glutton；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃come； let us go and
witness this bridal； and see what the rejected Basilio does。〃
〃Let him do what he likes；〃 returned Sancho； 〃be he not poor； he
would marry Quiteria。 To make a grand match for himself； and he
without a farthing； is there nothing else？ Faith； senor； it's my
opinion the poor man should be content with what he can get； and not
go looking for dainties in the bottom of the sea。 I will bet my arm
that Camacho could bury Basilio in reals； and if that be so； as no
doubt it is； what a fool Quiteria would be to refuse the fine
dresses and jewels Camacho must have given her and will give her；
and take Basilio's bar…throwing and sword…play。 They won't give a pint
of wine at the tavern for a good cast of the bar or a neat thrust of
the sword。 Talents and accomplishments that can't be turned into
money； let Count Dirlos have them； but when such gifts fall to one
that has hard cash； I wish my condition of life was as becoming as
they are。 On a good foundation you can raise a good building； and
the best foundation in the world is money。〃
〃For God's sake； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote here； 〃stop that
harangue； it is my belief； if thou wert allowed to continue all thou
beginnest every instant； thou wouldst have no time left for eating
or sleeping； for thou wouldst spend it all in talking。〃
〃If your worship had a good memory；〃 replied Sancho； 〃you would
remember the articles of our agreement before we started from home
this last time； one of them was that I was to be let say all I
liked； so long as it was not against my neighbour or your worship's
authority； and so far； it seems to me； I have not broken the said
article。〃
〃I remember no such article； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and even if
it were so； I desire you to hold your tongue and come along； for the
instruments we heard last night are already beginning to enliven the
valleys again； and no doubt the marriage will take place in the cool
of the morning； and not in the heat of the afternoon。〃
Sancho did as his master bade him； and putting the saddle on
Rocinante and the pack…saddle on Dapple； they both mounted and at a
leisurely pace entered the arcade。 The first thing that presented
itself to Sancho's eyes was a whole ox spitted on a whole elm tree；
and in the fire at which it was to be roasted there was burning a
middling…sized mountain of faggots； and six stewpots that stood
round the blaze had not been made in the ordinary mould of common
pots； for they were six half wine…jars； each fit to hold the
contents of a slaughter…house； they swallowed up whole sheep and hid
them away in their insides without showing any more sign of them
than if they were pigeons。 Countless were the hares ready skinned
and the plucked fowls that hung on the trees for burial in the pots；
numberless the wildfowl and game of various sorts suspended from the
branches that the air might keep them cool。 Sancho counted more than
sixty wine skins of over six gallons each； and all filled； as it
proved afterwards； with generous wines。 There were； besides； piles
of the whitest bread； like the heaps of corn one sees on the
threshing…floors。 There was a wall made of cheeses arranged like
open brick…work； and two cauldrons full of oil； bigger than those of a
dyer's shop； served for cooking fritters； which when fried were
taken out with two mighty shovels； and plunged into another cauldron
of prepared honey that stood close by。 Of cooks and cook…maids there
were over fifty； all clean； brisk； and blithe。 In the capacious
belly of the ox were a dozen soft little sucking…pigs； which； sewn
up there； served to give it tenderness and flavour。 The spices of
different kinds did not seem to have been bought by the pound but by
the quarter； and all lay open to view in a great chest。 In short；
all the preparations made for the wedding were in rustic style； but
abundant enough to feed an army。
Sancho observed all； contemplated all； and everything won his heart。
The first to captivate and take his fancy were the pots； out of
which he would have very gladly helped himself to a moderate
pipkinful； then the wine skins secured his affections； and lastly； the
produce of the frying…pans； if； indeed； such imposing cauldrons may be
called frying…pans； and unable to control himself or bear it any
longer； he approached one of the busy cooks and civilly but hungrily
begged permission to soak a scrap of bread in one of the pots； to
which the cook made answer； 〃Brother； this is not a day on which
hunger is to have any sway； thanks to the rich Camacho； get down and
look about for a ladle and skim off a hen or two； and much good may
they do you。〃
〃I don't see one；〃 said Sancho。
〃Wait a bit；〃 said the cook； 〃sinner that I am！ how particular and
bashful you are！〃 and so saying； he seized a bucket and plunging it
into one of the half jars took up three hens and a couple of geese；
and said to Sancho； 〃Fall to； friend； and take the edge off your
appetite with these skimmings until dinner…time comes。〃
〃I have nothing to put them in；〃 said Sancho。
〃Well then；〃 said the cook； 〃take spoon and all； for Camacho's
wealth and happiness furnish everything。〃
While Sancho fared thus； Don Quixote was watching the entrance； at
one end of the arcade； of some twelve peasants； all in holiday and
gala dress； mounted on twelve beautiful mares with rich handsome field
trappings and a number of little bells attached to their petrals； who；
marshalled in regular order； ran not one but several courses over
the meadow； with jubilant shouts and cries of 〃Long live Camacho and
Quiteria！ he as rich as she is fair； and she the fairest on earth！〃
Hearing this； Don Quixote said to himself； 〃It is easy to see
these folk have never seen my Dulcinea del Toboso； for if they had
they would be more moderate in their praises of this Quiteria of
theirs。〃
Shortly after this； several bands of dancers of various sorts
began to enter the arcade a