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in through the grating of his chamber； and flying from one side to the
other； made it seem as if there was a legion of devils at large in it。
They extinguished the candles that were burning in the room； and
rushed about seeking some way of escape； the cord with the large bells
never ceased rising and falling； and most of the people of the castle；
not knowing what was really the matter； were at their wits' end with
astonishment。 Don Quixote sprang to his feet； and drawing his sword；
began making passes at the grating； shouting out； 〃Avaunt； malignant
enchanters！ avaunt； ye witchcraft…working rabble！ I am Don Quixote
of La Mancha； against whom your evil machinations avail not nor have
any power。〃 And turning upon the cats that were running about the
room； he made several cuts at them。 They dashed at the grating and
escaped by it； save one that； finding itself hard pressed by the
slashes of Don Quixote's sword； flew at his face and held on to his
nose tooth and nail； with the pain of which he began to shout his
loudest。 The duke and duchess hearing this； and guessing what it
was； ran with all haste to his room； and as the poor gentleman was
striving with all his might to detach the cat from his face； they
opened the door with a master…key and went in with lights and
witnessed the unequal combat。 The duke ran forward to part the
combatants； but Don Quixote cried out aloud； 〃Let no one take him from
me； leave me hand to hand with this demon； this wizard； this
enchanter； I will teach him； I myself； who Don Quixote of La Mancha
is。〃 The cat； however； never minding these threats； snarled and held
on； but at last the duke pulled it off and flung it out of the window。
Don Quixote was left with a face as full of holes as a sieve and a
nose not in very good condition； and greatly vexed that they did not
let him finish the battle he had been so stoutly fighting with that
villain of an enchanter。 They sent for some oil of John's wort； and
Altisidora herself with her own fair hands bandaged all the wounded
parts； and as she did so she said to him in a low voice。 〃All these
mishaps have befallen thee； hardhearted knight； for the sin of thy
insensibility and obstinacy； and God grant thy squire Sancho may
forget to whip himself； so that that dearly beloved Dulcinea of
thine may never be released from her enchantment； that thou mayest
never come to her bed； at least while I who adore thee am alive。〃
To all this Don Quixote made no answer except to heave deep sighs；
and then stretched himself on his bed； thanking the duke and duchess
for their kindness； not because he stood in any fear of that
bell…ringing rabble of enchanters in cat shape； but because he
recognised their good intentions in coming to his rescue。 The duke and
duchess left him to repose and withdrew greatly grieved at the
unfortunate result of the joke； as they never thought the adventure
would have fallen so heavy on Don Quixote or cost him so dear； for
it cost him five days of confinement to his bed； during which he had
another adventure； pleasanter than the late one； which his
chronicler will not relate just now in order that he may turn his
attention to Sancho Panza； who was proceeding with great diligence and
drollery in his government。
CHAPTER XLVII
WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE ACCOUNT OF HOW SANCHO PANZA CONDUCTED
HIMSELF IN HIS GOVERNMENT
THE history says that from the justice court they carried Sancho
to a sumptuous palace； where in a spacious chamber there was a table
laid out with royal magnificence。 The clarions sounded as Sancho
entered the room； and four pages came forward to present him with
water for his hands； which Sancho received with great dignity。 The
music ceased； and Sancho seated himself at the head of the table；
for there was only that seat placed； and no more than one cover
laid。 A personage； who it appeared afterwards was a physician；
placed himself standing by his side with a whalebone wand in his hand。
They then lifted up a fine white cloth covering fruit and a great
variety of dishes of different sorts； one who looked like a student
said grace； and a page put a laced bib on Sancho； while another who
played the part of head carver placed a dish of fruit before him。
But hardly had he tasted a morsel when the man with the wand touched
the plate with it； and they took it away from before him with the
utmost celerity。 The carver； however； brought him another dish； and
Sancho proceeded to try it； but before he could get at it； not to
say taste it； already the wand had touched it and a page had carried
it off with the same promptitude as the fruit。 Sancho seeing this
was puzzled； and looking from one to another asked if this dinner
was to be eaten after the fashion of a jugglery trick。
To this he with the wand replied； 〃It is not to be eaten； senor
governor； except as is usual and customary in other islands where
there are governors。 I； senor； am a physician； and I am paid a
salary in this island to serve its governors as such； and I have a
much greater regard for their health than for my own； studying day and
night and making myself acquainted with the governor's constitution；
in order to be able to cure him when he falls sick。 The chief thing
I have to do is to attend at his dinners and suppers and allow him
to eat what appears to me to be fit for him； and keep from him what
I think will do him harm and be injurious to his stomach； and
therefore I ordered that plate of fruit to be removed as being too
moist； and that other dish I ordered to he removed as being too hot
and containing many spices that stimulate thirst； for he who drinks
much kills and consumes the radical moisture wherein life consists。〃
〃Well then；〃 said Sancho； 〃that dish of roast partridges there
that seems so savoury will not do me any harm。〃
To this the physician replied； 〃Of those my lord the governor
shall not eat so long as I live。〃
〃Why so？〃 said Sancho。
〃Because；〃 replied the doctor； 〃our master Hippocrates； the polestar
and beacon of medicine； says in one of his aphorisms omnis saturatio
mala； perdicis autem pessima； which means 'all repletion is bad； but
that of partridge is the worst of all。〃
〃In that case；〃 said Sancho； 〃let senor doctor see among the
dishes that are on the table what will do me most good and least harm；
and let me eat it； without tapping it with his stick； for by the
life of the governor； and so may God suffer me to enjoy it； but I'm
dying of hunger； and in spite of the doctor and all he may say； to
deny me food is the way to take my life instead of prolonging it。〃
〃Your worship is right； senor governor；〃 said the physician； 〃and
therefore your worship； I consider； should not eat of those stewed
rabbits there； because it is a furry kind of food； if that veal were
not roasted and served with pickles； you might try it； but it is out
of the question。〃
〃That big dish that is smoking farther off；〃 said Sancho； 〃seems
to me to be an olla podrida； and out of the diversity of things in
such ollas； I can't fail to light upon something tasty and good for
me。〃
〃Absit；〃 said the doctor； 〃far from us be any such base thought！
There is nothing in the world less nourishing than an olla podrida； to
canons； or rectors of colleges； or peasants' weddings with your
ollas podridas； but let us have none of them on the tables of
governors； where everything that is present should be delicate and
refined； and the reason is； that always； everywhere and by
everybody； simple medicines are more esteemed than compound ones；
for we cannot go wrong in those that are simple； while in the compound
we may； by merely altering the quantity of the things composing
them。 But what I am of opinion the governor should cat now in order to
preserve and fortify his health is a hundred or so of wafer cakes
and a few thin slices of conserve of quinces； which will settle his
stomach and help his digestion。〃
Sancho on hearing this threw himself back in his chair and
surveyed the doctor steadily； and in a solemn tone asked him what
his name was and where he had studied。
He replied； 〃My name； senor governor； is Doctor Pedro Recio de
Aguero I am a native of a place called Tirteafuera which lies
between Caracuel and Almodovar del Campo； on the right…hand side；
and I have the degree of doctor from the university of Osuna。〃
To which Sancho； glowing all over with rage； returned； 〃Then let
Doctor Pedro Recio de Malaguero； native of Tirteafuera； a place that's
on the right…hand side as we go from Caracuel to Almodovar del
Campo； graduate of Osuna； get out of my presence at once； or I swear
by the sun I'll take a cudgel； and by dint of blows； beginning with
him； I'll not leave a doctor in the whole island； at least of those
I know to be ignorant； for as to learned； wise； sensible physicians；
them I will reverence and honour as divine persons。 Once more I say
let Pedro Recio get out of this or I'll take this chair I am sitting
on and break it over his head。 And if they call me to account for
it； I'll clear myself by saying I served God in killing a bad
doctor… a general executioner。 And now give me something to eat； or
else take your government； for a trade th