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Melisendra from behind？ Observe now how he prints a kiss upon her
lips； and what a hurry she is in to spit； and wipe them with the white
sleeve of her smock； and how she bewails herself； and tears her fair
hair as though it were to blame for the wrong。 Observe； too； that
the stately Moor who is in that corridor is King Marsilio of Sansuena；
who； having seen the Moor's insolence； at once orders him （though
his kinsman and a great favourite of his） to be seized and given two
hundred lashes； while carried through the streets of the city
according to custom； with criers going before him and officers of
justice behind； and here you see them come out to execute the
sentence； although the offence has been scarcely committed； for
among the Moors there are no indictments nor remands as with us。〃
Here Don Quixote called out； 〃Child； child； go straight on with your
story； and don't run into curves and slants； for to establish a fact
clearly there is need of a great deal of proof and confirmation；〃
and said Master Pedro from within； 〃Boy； stick to your text and do
as the gentleman bids you； it's the best plan； keep to your plain
song； and don't attempt harmonies； for they are apt to break down from
being over fine。〃
〃I will；〃 said the boy； and he went on to say； 〃This figure that you
see here on horseback； covered with a Gascon cloak； is Don Gaiferos
himself； whom his wife； now avenged of the insult of the amorous Moor；
and taking her stand on the balcony of the tower with a calmer and
more tranquil countenance； has perceived without recognising him；
and she addresses her husband； supposing him to be some traveller； and
holds with him all that conversation and colloquy in the ballad that
runs…
If you； sir knight； to France are bound；
Oh！ for Gaiferos ask…
which I do not repeat here because prolixity begets disgust； suffice
it to observe how Don Gaiferos discovers himself； and that by her
joyful gestures Melisendra shows us she has recognised him； and what
is more； we now see she lowers herself from the balcony to place
herself on the haunches of her good husband's horse。 But ah！ unhappy
lady； the edge of her petticoat has caught on one of the bars of the
balcony and she is left hanging in the air； unable to reach the
ground。 But you see how compassionate heaven sends aid in our sorest
need； Don Gaiferos advances； and without minding whether the rich
petticoat is torn or not； he seizes her and by force brings her to the
ground； and then with one jerk places her on the haunches of his
horse； astraddle like a man； and bids her hold on tight and clasp
her arms round his neck； crossing them on his breast so as not to
fall； for the lady Melisendra was not used to that style of riding。
You see； too； how the neighing of the horse shows his satisfaction
with the gallant and beautiful burden he bears in his lord and lady。
You see how they wheel round and quit the city； and in joy and
gladness take the road to Paris。 Go in peace； O peerless pair of
true lovers！ May you reach your longed…for fatherland in safety； and
may fortune interpose no impediment to your prosperous journey； may
the eyes of your friends and kinsmen behold you enjoying in peace
and tranquillity the remaining days of your life… and that they may be
as many as those of Nestor！〃
Here Master Pedro called out again and said； 〃Simplicity； boy！
None of your high flights； all affectation is bad。〃
The interpreter made no answer； but went on to say； 〃There was no
want of idle eyes； that see everything； to see Melisendra come down
and mount； and word was brought to King Marsilio； who at once gave
orders to sound the alarm； and see what a stir there is； and how the
city is drowned with the sound of the bells pealing in the towers of
all the mosques。〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 said Don Quixote at this； 〃on that point of the bells
Master Pedro is very inaccurate； for bells are not in use among the
Moors； only kettledrums； and a kind of small trumpet somewhat like our
clarion； to ring bells this way in Sansuena is unquestionably a
great absurdity。〃
On hearing this； Master Pedro stopped ringing； and said； 〃Don't look
into trifles； Senor Don Quixote； or want to have things up to a
pitch of perfection that is out of reach。 Are there not almost every
day a thousand comedies represented all round us full of thousands
of inaccuracies and absurdities； and； for all that； they have a
successful run； and are listened to not only with applause； but with
admiration and all the rest of it？ Go on； boy； and don't mind； for
so long as I fill my pouch； no matter if I show as many inaccuracies
as there are motes in a sunbeam。〃
〃True enough；〃 said Don Quixote； and the boy went on： 〃See what a
numerous and glittering crowd of horsemen issues from the city in
pursuit of the two faithful lovers； what a blowing of trumpets there
is； what sounding of horns； what beating of drums and tabors； I fear
me they will overtake them and bring them back tied to the tail of
their own horse； which would be a dreadful sight。〃
Don Quixote； however； seeing such a swarm of Moors and hearing
such a din； thought it would be right to aid the fugitives； and
standing up he exclaimed in a loud voice； 〃Never； while I live； will I
permit foul play to be practised in my presence on such a famous
knight and fearless lover as Don Gaiferos。 Halt！ ill…born rabble；
follow him not nor pursue him； or ye will have to reckon with me in
battle！〃 and suiting the action to the word； he drew his sword； and
with one bound placed himself close to the show； and with unexampled
rapidity and fury began to shower down blows on the puppet troop of
Moors； knocking over some； decapitating others； maiming this one and
demolishing that； and among many more he delivered one down stroke
which； if Master Pedro had not ducked； made himself small； and got out
of the way； would have sliced off his head as easily as if it had been
made of almond…paste。 Master Pedro kept shouting； 〃Hold hard！ Senor
Don Quixote！ can't you see they're not real Moors you're knocking down
and killing and destroying； but only little pasteboard figures！
Look… sinner that I am！… how you're wrecking and ruining all that
I'm worth！〃 But in spite of this； Don Quixote did not leave off
discharging a continuous rain of cuts； slashes； downstrokes； and
backstrokes； and at length； in less than the space of two credos； he
brought the whole show to the ground； with all its fittings and
figures shivered and knocked to pieces； King Marsilio badly wounded；
and the Emperor Charlemagne with his crown and head split in two。
The whole audience was thrown into confusion； the ape fled to the roof
of the inn； the cousin was frightened； and even Sancho Panza himself
was in mighty fear； for； as he swore after the storm was over； he
had never seen his master in such a furious passion。
The complete destruction of the show being thus accomplished； Don
Quixote became a little calmer； said； 〃I wish I had here before me now
all those who do not or will not believe how useful knights…errant are
in the world； just think； if I had not been here present； what would
have become of the brave Don Gaiferos and the fair Melisendra！
Depend upon it； by this time those dogs would have overtaken them
and inflicted some outrage upon them。 So； then； long live
knight…errantry beyond everything living on earth this day！〃
〃Let it live； and welcome；〃 said Master Pedro at this in a feeble
voice； 〃and let me die； for I am so unfortunate that I can say with
King Don Rodrigo…
Yesterday was I lord of Spain
To…day I've not a turret left
That I may call mine own。
Not half an hour； nay； barely a minute ago； I saw myself lord of kings
and emperors； with my stables filled with countless horses； and my
trunks and bags with gay dresses unnumbered； and now I find myself
ruined and laid low； destitute and a beggar； and above all without
my ape； for； by my faith； my teeth will have to sweat for it before
I have him caught； and all through the reckless fury of sir knight
here； who； they say； protects the fatherless； and rights wrongs； and
does other charitable deeds； but whose generous intentions have been
found wanting in my case only； blessed and praised be the highest
heavens！ Verily； knight of the rueful figure he must be to have
disfigured mine。〃
Sancho Panza was touched by Master Pedro's words； and said to him；
〃Don't weep and lament； Master Pedro； you break my heart； let me
tell you my master； Don Quixote； is so catholic and scrupulous a
Christian that； if he can make out that he has done you any wrong；
he will own it； and be willing to pay for it and make it good； and
something over and above。〃
〃Only let Senor Don Quixote pay me for some part of the work he
has destroyed；〃 said Master Pedro； 〃and I would be content； and his
worship would ease his conscience； for he cannot be saved who keeps
what is another's against the owner's will； and makes no restitution。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but at present I am not aware
that I have got anything of yours； Master Pedro。〃
〃What！〃 returned Master Pedro； 〃and these relics lying here on the
bare hard ground… wh