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found infinite enjoyment in listening to his shrewd remarks。 Sancho
required no pressing； but pushed himself in between them and the duke；
who thought it rare good fortune to receive such a knight…errant and
such a homely squire in their castle。
CHAPTER XXXI
WHICH TREATS OF MANY AND GREAT MATTERS
SUPREME was the satisfaction that Sancho felt at seeing himself；
as it seemed； an established favourite with the duchess； for he looked
forward to finding in her castle what he had found in Don Diego's
house and in Basilio's； he was always fond of good living； and
always seized by the forelock any opportunity of feasting himself
whenever it presented itself。 The history informs us； then； that
before they reached the country house or castle； the duke went on in
advance and instructed all his servants how they were to treat Don
Quixote； and so the instant he came up to the castle gates with the
duchess； two lackeys or equerries； clad in what they call morning
gowns of fine crimson satin reaching to their feet； hastened out；
and catching Don Quixote in their arms before he saw or heard them；
said to him； 〃Your highness should go and take my lady the duchess off
her horse。〃 Don Quixote obeyed； and great bandying of compliments
followed between the two over the matter； but in the end the duchess's
determination carried the day； and she refused to get down or dismount
from her palfrey except in the arms of the duke； saying she did not
consider herself worthy to impose so unnecessary a burden on so
great a knight。 At length the duke came out to take her down； and as
they entered a spacious court two fair damsels came forward and
threw over Don Quixote's shoulders a large mantle of the finest
scarlet cloth； and at the same instant all the galleries of the
court were lined with the men…servants and women…servants of the
household； crying； 〃Welcome； flower and cream of knight…errantry！〃
while all or most of them flung pellets filled with scented water over
Don Quixote and the duke and duchess； at all which Don Quixote was
greatly astonished； and this was the first time that he thoroughly
felt and believed himself to be a knight…errant in reality and not
merely in fancy； now that he saw himself treated in the same way as he
had read of such knights being treated in days of yore。
Sancho； deserting Dapple； hung on to the duchess and entered the
castle； but feeling some twinges of conscience at having left the
ass alone； he approached a respectable duenna who had come out with
the rest to receive the duchess； and in a low voice he said to her；
〃Senora Gonzalez； or however your grace may be called…〃
〃I am called Dona Rodriguez de Grijalba；〃 replied the duenna；
〃what is your will； brother？〃 To which Sancho made answer； 〃I should
be glad if your worship would do me the favour to go out to the castle
gate； where you will find a grey ass of mine； make them； if you
please； put him in the stable； or put him there yourself； for the poor
little beast is rather easily frightened； and cannot bear being
alone at all。〃
〃If the master is as wise as the man；〃 said the duenna； 〃we have got
a fine bargain。 Be off with you； brother； and bad luck to you and
him who brought you here； go； look after your ass； for we； the duennas
of this house； are not used to work of that sort。〃
〃Well then； in troth；〃 returned Sancho； 〃I have heard my master； who
is the very treasure…finder of stories； telling the story of
Lancelot when he came from Britain； say that ladies waited upon him
and duennas upon his hack； and； if it comes to my ass； I wouldn't
change him for Senor Lancelot's hack。〃
〃If you are a jester； brother；〃 said the duenna； 〃keep your
drolleries for some place where they'll pass muster and be paid for；
for you'll get nothing from me but a fig。〃
〃At any rate； it will be a very ripe one；〃 said Sancho； 〃for you
won't lose the trick in years by a point too little。〃
〃Son of a bitch；〃 said the duenna； all aglow with anger； 〃whether
I'm old or not； it's with God I have to reckon； not with you； you
garlic…stuffed scoundrel！〃 and she said it so loud； that the duchess
heard it； and turning round and seeing the duenna in such a state of
excitement； and her eyes flaming so； asked whom she was wrangling
with。
〃With this good fellow here；〃 said the duenna； 〃who has particularly
requested me to go and put an ass of his that is at the castle gate
into the stable； holding it up to me as an example that they did the
same I don't know where… that some ladies waited on one Lancelot；
and duennas on his hack； and what is more； to wind up with； he
called me old。〃
〃That；〃 said the duchess； 〃I should have considered the greatest
affront that could be offered me；〃 and addressing Sancho； she said
to him； 〃You must know； friend Sancho； that Dona Rodriguez is very
youthful； and that she wears that hood more for authority and custom
sake than because of her years。〃
〃May all the rest of mine be unlucky；〃 said Sancho； 〃if I meant it
that way； I only spoke because the affection I have for my ass is so
great； and I thought I could not commend him to a more kind…hearted
person than the lady Dona Rodriguez。〃
Don Quixote； who was listening； said to him； 〃Is this proper
conversation for the place； Sancho？〃
〃Senor；〃 replied Sancho； 〃every one must mention what he wants
wherever he may be； I thought of Dapple here； and I spoke of him here；
if I had thought of him in the stable I would have spoken there。〃
On which the duke observed； 〃Sancho is quite right； and there is
no reason at all to find fault with him； Dapple shall be fed to his
heart's content； and Sancho may rest easy； for he shall be treated
like himself。〃
While this conversation； amusing to all except Don Quixote； was
proceeding； they ascended the staircase and ushered Don Quixote into a
chamber hung with rich cloth of gold and brocade； six damsels relieved
him of his armour and waited on him like pages； all of them prepared
and instructed by the duke and duchess as to what they were to do； and
how they were to treat Don Quixote； so that he might see and believe
they were treating him like a knight…errant。 When his armour was
removed； there stood Don Quixote in his tight…fitting breeches and
chamois doublet； lean； lanky； and long； with cheeks that seemed to
be kissing each other inside； such a figure； that if the damsels
waiting on him had not taken care to check their merriment （which
was one of the particular directions their master and mistress had
given them）； they would have burst with laughter。 They asked him to
let himself be stripped that they might put a shirt on him； but he
would not on any account； saying that modesty became knights…errant
just as much as valour。 However； he said they might give the shirt
to Sancho； and shutting himself in with him in a room where there
was a sumptuous bed； he undressed and put on the shirt； and then；
finding himself alone with Sancho； he said to him； 〃Tell me； thou
new…fledged buffoon and old booby； dost thou think it right to
offend and insult a duenna so deserving of reverence and respect as
that one just now？ Was that a time to bethink thee of thy Dapple； or
are these noble personages likely to let the beasts fare badly when
they treat their owners in such elegant style？ For God's sake； Sancho；
restrain thyself； and don't show the thread so as to let them see what
a coarse； boorish texture thou art of。 Remember； sinner that thou art；
the master is the more esteemed the more respectable and well…bred his
servants are； and that one of the greatest advantages that princes
have over other men is that they have servants as good as themselves
to wait on them。 Dost thou not see… shortsighted being that thou
art； and unlucky mortal that I am！… that if they perceive thee to be a
coarse clown or a dull blockhead； they will suspect me to be some
impostor or swindler？ Nay； nay； Sancho friend； keep clear； oh； keep
clear of these stumbling…blocks； for he who falls into the way of
being a chatterbox and droll； drops into a wretched buffoon the
first time he trips； bridle thy tongue； consider and weigh thy words
before they escape thy mouth； and bear in mind we are now in
quarters whence； by God's help； and the strength of my arm； we shall
come forth mightily advanced in fame and fortune。〃
Sancho promised him with much earnestness to keep his mouth shut；
and to bite off his tongue before he uttered a word that was not
altogether to the purpose and well considered； and told him he might
make his mind easy on that point； for it should never be discovered
through him what they were。
Don Quixote dressed himself； put on his baldric with his sword；
threw the scarlet mantle over his shoulders； placed on his head a
montera of green satin that the damsels had given him； and thus
arrayed passed out into the large room； where he found the damsels
drawn up in double file； the same number on each side； all with the
appliances for washing the hands； which they presented to him with
profuse obeisances and ceremonies。 Then came twelve pages； together
with the seneschal； to lead him to dinner； as his hosts were already
waiting for him。 They placed him in the mid