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while I was there； and day came； and it was night again and day
again three times； so that； by my reckoning； I have been three days in
those remote regions beyond our ken。〃
〃My master must be right；〃 replied Sancho； 〃for as everything that
has happened to him is by enchantment； maybe what seems to us an
hour would seem three days and nights there。〃
〃That's it；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃And did your worship eat anything all that time； senor？〃 asked
the cousin。
〃I never touched a morsel；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃nor did I feel
hunger； or think of it。〃
〃And do the enchanted eat？〃 said the cousin。
〃They neither eat；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃nor are they subject to the
greater excrements； though it is thought that their nails； beards； and
hair grow。〃
〃And do the enchanted sleep； now； senor？〃 asked Sancho。
〃Certainly not；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃at least； during those
three days I was with them not one of them closed an eye； nor did I
either。〃
〃The proverb； 'Tell me what company thou keepest and I'll tell
thee what thou art；' is to the point here；〃 said Sancho； 〃your worship
keeps company with enchanted people that are always fasting and
watching； what wonder is it； then； that you neither eat nor sleep
while you are with them？ But forgive me； senor； if I say that of all
this you have told us now； may God take me… I was just going to say
the devil… if I believe a single particle。〃
〃What！〃 said the cousin； 〃has Senor Don Quixote； then； been lying？
Why； even if he wished it he has not had time to imagine and put
together such a host of lies。〃
〃I don't believe my master lies；〃 said Sancho。
〃If not； what dost thou believe？〃 asked Don Quixote。
〃I believe；〃 replied Sancho； 〃that this Merlin； or those
enchanters who enchanted the whole crew your worship says you saw
and discoursed with down there； stuffed your imagination or your
mind with all this rigmarole you have been treating us to； and all
that is still to come。〃
〃All that might be； Sancho；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃but it is not so；
for everything that I have told you I saw with my own eyes； and
touched with my own hands。 But what will you say when I tell you now
how； among the countless other marvellous things Montesinos showed
me （of which at leisure and at the proper time I will give thee an
account in the course of our journey； for they would not be all in
place here）； he showed me three country girls who went skipping and
capering like goats over the pleasant fields there； and the instant
I beheld them I knew one to be the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso； and
the other two those same country girls that were with her and that
we spoke to on the road from El Toboso！ I asked Montesinos if he
knew them； and he told me he did not； but he thought they must be some
enchanted ladies of distinction； for it was only a few days before
that they had made their appearance in those meadows； but I was not to
be surprised at that； because there were a great many other ladies
there of times past and present； enchanted in various strange
shapes； and among them he had recognised Queen Guinevere and her
dame Quintanona； she who poured out the wine for Lancelot when he came
from Britain。〃
When Sancho Panza heard his master say this he was ready to take
leave of his senses； or die with laughter； for； as he knew the real
truth about the pretended enchantment of Dulcinea； in which he himself
had been the enchanter and concocter of all the evidence； he made up
his mind at last that； beyond all doubt； his master was out of his
wits and stark mad； so he said to him； 〃It was an evil hour； a worse
season； and a sorrowful day； when your worship； dear master mine； went
down to the other world； and an unlucky moment when you met with Senor
Montesinos； who has sent you back to us like this。 You were well
enough here above in your full senses； such as God had given you；
delivering maxims and giving advice at every turn； and not as you
are now； talking the greatest nonsense that can be imagined。〃
〃As I know thee； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I heed not thy words。〃
〃Nor I your worship's；〃 said Sancho； 〃whether you beat me or kill me
for those I have spoken； and will speak if you don't correct and
mend your own。 But tell me； while we are still at peace； how or by
what did you recognise the lady our mistress； and if you spoke to her；
what did you say； and what did she answer？〃
〃I recognised her；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃by her wearing the same
garments she wore when thou didst point her out to me。 I spoke to her；
but she did not utter a word in reply； on the contrary； she turned her
back on me and took to flight； at such a pace that crossbow bolt could
not have overtaken her。 I wished to follow her； and would have done so
had not Montesinos recommended me not to take the trouble as it
would be useless； particularly as the time was drawing near when it
would be necessary for me to quit the cavern。 He told me； moreover；
that in course of time he would let me know how he and Belerma； and
Durandarte； and all who were there； were to be disenchanted。 But of
all I saw and observed down there； what gave me most pain was； that
while Montesinos was speaking to me； one of the two companions of
the hapless Dulcinea approached me on one without my having seen her
coming； and with tears in her eyes said to me； in a low； agitated
voice； 'My lady Dulcinea del Toboso kisses your worship's hands； and
entreats you to do her the favour of letting her know how you are；
and； being in great need； she also entreats your worship as
earnestly as she can to be so good as to lend her half a dozen
reals； or as much as you may have about you； on this new dimity
petticoat that I have here； and she promises to repay them very
speedily。' I was amazed and taken aback by such a message； and turning
to Senor Montesinos I asked him； 'Is it possible； Senor Montesinos；
that persons of distinction under enchantment can be in need？' To
which he replied； 'Believe me； Senor Don Quixote； that which is called
need is to be met with everywhere； and penetrates all quarters and
reaches everyone； and does not spare even the enchanted； and as the
lady Dulcinea del Toboso sends to beg those six reals； and the
pledge is to all appearance a good one； there is nothing for it but to
give them to her； for no doubt she must be in some great strait。' 'I
will take no pledge of her；' I replied； 'nor yet can I give her what
she asks； for all I have is four reals； which I gave （they were
those which thou； Sancho； gavest me the other day to bestow in alms
upon the poor I met along the road）； and I said； 'Tell your
mistress； my dear； that I am grieved to the heart because of her
distresses； and wish I was a Fucar to remedy them； and that I would
have her know that I cannot be； and ought not be； in health while
deprived of the happiness of seeing her and enjoying her discreet
conversation； and that I implore her as earnestly as I can； to allow
herself to be seen and addressed by this her captive servant and
forlorn knight。 Tell her； too； that when she least expects it she will
hear it announced that I have made an oath and vow after the fashion
of that which the Marquis of Mantua made to avenge his nephew Baldwin；
when he found him at the point of death in the heart of the mountains；
which was； not to eat bread off a tablecloth； and other trifling
matters which he added； until he had avenged him； and I will make
the same to take no rest； and to roam the seven regions of the earth
more thoroughly than the Infante Don Pedro of Portugal ever roamed
them； until I have disenchanted her。' 'All that and more； you owe my
lady；' the damsel's answer to me； and taking the four reals； instead
of making me a curtsey she cut a caper； springing two full yards
into the air。〃
〃O blessed God！〃 exclaimed Sancho aloud at this； 〃is it possible
that such things can be in the world； and that enchanters and
enchantments can have such power in it as to have changed my
master's right senses into a craze so full of absurdity！ O senor；
senor； for God's sake； consider yourself； have a care for your honour；
and give no credit to this silly stuff that has left you scant and
short of wits。〃
〃Thou talkest in this way because thou lovest me； Sancho；〃 said
Don Quixote； 〃and not being experienced in the things of the world；
everything that has some difficulty about it seems to thee impossible；
but time will pass； as I said before； and I will tell thee some of the
things I saw down there which will make thee believe what I have
related now； the truth of which admits of neither reply nor question。〃
CHAPTER XXIV
WHEREIN ARE RELATED A THOUSAND TRIFLING MATTERS； AS TRIVIAL AS
THEY ARE NECESSARY TO THE RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF THIS GREAT HISTORY
HE WHO translated this great history from the original written by
its first author； Cide Hamete Benengeli； says that on coming to the
chapter giving the adventures of the cave of Montesinos he found
written on the margin of it； in Hamete's own hand； these exact words：
〃I cannot convince or persuade myself that everything that is
written in the preceding chapter could have precisely happened to
the valiant Don Quixote； and