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are we weep for Spain； for after all we were born there and it is
our natural fatherland。 Nowhere do we find the reception our unhappy
condition needs； and in Barbary and all the parts of Africa where we
counted upon being received； succoured； and welcomed； it is there they
insult and ill…treat us most。 We knew not our good fortune until we
lost it； and such is the longing we almost all of us have to return to
Spain； that most of those who like myself know the language； and there
are many who do； come back to it and leave their wives and children
forsaken yonder； so great is their love for it； and now I know by
experience the meaning of the saying； sweet is the love of one's
country。
〃I left our village； as I said； and went to France； but though
they gave us a kind reception there I was anxious to see all I
could。 I crossed into Italy； and reached Germany； and there it
seemed to me we might live with more freedom； as the inhabitants do
not pay any attention to trifling points； everyone lives as he
likes； for in most parts they enjoy liberty of conscience。 I took a
house in a town near Augsburg； and then joined these pilgrims； who are
in the habit of coming to Spain in great numbers every year to visit
the shrines there； which they look upon as their Indies and a sure and
certain source of gain。 They travel nearly all over it； and there is
no town out of which they do not go full up of meat and drink； as
the saying is； and with a real； at least； in money； and they come
off at the end of their travels with more than a hundred crowns saved；
which； changed into gold； they smuggle out of the kingdom either in
the hollow of their staves or in the patches of their pilgrim's cloaks
or by some device of their own； and carry to their own country in
spite of the guards at the posts and passes where they are searched。
Now my purpose is； Sancho； to carry away the treasure that I left
buried； which； as it is outside the town； I shall be able to do
without risk； and to write； or cross over from Valencia； to my
daughter and wife； who I know are at Algiers； and find some means of
bringing them to some French port and thence to Germany； there to
await what it may be God's will to do with us； for； after all； Sancho；
I know well that Ricota my daughter and Francisca Ricota my wife are
Catholic Christians； and though I am not so much so； still I am more
of a Christian than a Moor； and it is always my prayer to God that
he will open the eyes of my understanding and show me how I am to
serve him； but what amazes me and I cannot understand is why my wife
and daughter should have gone to Barbary rather than to France；
where they could live as Christians。〃
To this Sancho replied； 〃Remember； Ricote； that may not have been
open to them； for Juan Tiopieyo thy wife's brother took them； and
being a true Moor he went where he could go most easily； and another
thing I can tell thee； it is my belief thou art going in vain to
look for what thou hast left buried； for we heard they took from thy
brother…in…law and thy wife a great quantity of pearls and money in
gold which they brought to be passed。〃
〃That may be；〃 said Ricote； 〃but I know they did not touch my hoard；
for I did not tell them where it was； for fear of accidents； and so；
if thou wilt come with me； Sancho； and help me to take it away and
conceal it； I will give thee two hundred crowns wherewith thou
mayest relieve thy necessities； and； as thou knowest； I know they
are many。〃
〃I would do it；〃 said Sancho； 〃but I am not at all covetous； for I
gave up an office this morning in which； if I was； I might have made
the walls of my house of gold and dined off silver plates before six
months were over； and so for this reason； and because I feel I would
be guilty of treason to my king if I helped his enemies； I would not
go with thee if instead of promising me two hundred crowns thou wert
to give me four hundred here in hand。〃
〃And what office is this thou hast given up； Sancho？〃 asked Ricote。
〃I have given up being governor of an island；〃 said Sancho； 〃and
such a one； faith； as you won't find the like of easily。〃
〃And where is this island？〃 said Ricote。
〃Where？〃 said Sancho； 〃two leagues from here； and it is called the
island of Barataria。〃
〃Nonsense！ Sancho；〃 said Ricote； 〃islands are away out in the sea；
there are no islands on the mainland。〃
〃What？ No islands！〃 said Sancho； 〃I tell thee； friend Ricote； I left
it this morning； and yesterday I was governing there as I pleased like
a sagittarius； but for all that I gave it up； for it seemed to me a
dangerous office； a governor's。〃
〃And what hast thou gained by the government？〃 asked Ricote。
〃I have gained；〃 said Sancho； 〃the knowledge that I am no good for
governing； unless it is a drove of cattle； and that the riches that
are to be got by these governments are got at the cost of one's rest
and sleep； ay and even one's food； for in islands the governors must
eat little； especially if they have doctors to look after their
health。〃
〃I don't understand thee； Sancho；〃 said Ricote； 〃but it seems to
me all nonsense thou art talking。 Who would give thee islands to
govern？ Is there any scarcity in the world of cleverer men than thou
art for governors？ Hold thy peace； Sancho； and come back to thy
senses； and consider whether thou wilt come with me as I said to
help me to take away treasure I left buried （for indeed it may be
called a treasure； it is so large）； and I will give thee wherewithal
to keep thee； as I told thee。〃
〃And I have told thee already； Ricote； that I will not；〃 said
Sancho； 〃let it content thee that by me thou shalt not be betrayed；
and go thy way in God's name and let me go mine； for I know that
well…gotten gain may be lost； but ill…gotten gain is lost； itself
and its owner likewise。〃
〃I will not press thee； Sancho；〃 said Ricote； 〃but tell me； wert
thou in our village when my wife and daughter and brother…in…law
left it？〃
〃I was so；〃 said Sancho； 〃and I can tell thee thy daughter left it
looking so lovely that all the village turned out to see her； and
everybody said she was the fairest creature in the world。 She wept
as she went； and embraced all her friends and acquaintances and
those who came out to see her； and she begged them all to commend
her to God and Our Lady his mother； and this in such a touching way
that it made me weep myself； though I'm not much given to tears
commonly； and； faith； many a one would have liked to hide her； or go
out and carry her off on the road； but the fear of going against the
king's command kept them back。 The one who showed himself most moved
was Don Pedro Gregorio； the rich young heir thou knowest of； and
they say he was deep in love with her； and since she left he has not
been seen in our village again； and we all suspect he has gone after
her to steal her away； but so far nothing has been heard of it。〃
〃I always had a suspicion that gentleman had a passion for my
daughter；〃 said Ricote； 〃but as I felt sure of my Ricota's virtue it
gave me no uneasiness to know that he loved her； for thou must have
heard it said； Sancho； that the Morisco women seldom or never engage
in amours with the old Christians； and my daughter； who I fancy
thought more of being a Christian than of lovemaking； would not
trouble herself about the attentions of this heir。〃
〃God grant it；〃 said Sancho； 〃for it would be a bad business for
both of them； but now let me be off； friend Ricote； for I want to
reach where my master Don Quixote is to…night。〃
〃God be with thee； brother Sancho；〃 said Ricote； 〃my comrades are
beginning to stir； and it is time； too； for us to continue our
journey；〃 and then they both embraced； and Sancho mounted Dapple；
and Ricote leant upon his staff； and so they parted。
CHAPTER LV
OF WHAT BEFELL SANCHO ON THE ROAD； AND OTHER THINGS THAT CANNOT BE
SURPASSED
THE length of time he delayed with Ricote prevented Sancho from
reaching the duke's castle that day； though he was within half a
league of it when night； somewhat dark and cloudy； overtook him。 This；
however； as it was summer time； did not give him much uneasiness；
and he turned aside out of the road intending to wait for morning； but
his ill luck and hard fate so willed it that as he was searching about
for a place to make himself as comfortable as possible； he and
Dapple fell into a deep dark hole that lay among some very old
buildings。 As he fell he commended himself with all his heart to
God； fancying he was not going to stop until he reached the depths
of the bottomless pit； but it did not turn out so； for at little
more than thrice a man's height Dapple touched bottom； and he found
himself sitting on him without having received any hurt or damage
whatever。 He felt himself all over and held his breath to try
whether he was quite sound or had a hole made in him anywhere； and
finding himself all right and whole and in perfect health he was
profuse in his thanks to God our Lord for the mercy that had been
shown him； for he made sure he had been broken into a thousand pieces。
He also felt along the sides of the pit with his hands to see if it
were possible to get out of it without help