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were possible to get out of it without help； but he found they were
quite smooth and afforded no hold anywhere； at which he was greatly
distressed； especially when he heard how pathetically and dolefully
Dapple was bemoaning himself； and no wonder he complained； nor was
it from ill…temper； for in truth he was not in a very good case。
〃Alas；〃 said Sancho； 〃what unexpected accidents happen at every step
to those who live in this miserable world！ Who would have said that
one who saw himself yesterday sitting on a throne； governor of an
island； giving orders to his servants and his vassals； would see
himself to…day buried in a pit without a soul to help him； or
servant or vassal to come to his relief？ Here must we perish with
hunger； my ass and myself； if indeed we don't die first； he of his
bruises and injuries； and I of grief and sorrow。 At any rate I'll
not be as lucky as my master Don Quixote of La Mancha； when he went
down into the cave of that enchanted Montesinos； where he found people
to make more of him than if he had been in his own house； for it seems
he came in for a table laid out and a bed ready made。 There he saw
fair and pleasant visions； but here I'll see； I imagine； toads and
adders。 Unlucky wretch that I am； what an end my follies and fancies
have come to！ They'll take up my bones out of this； when it is
heaven's will that I'm found； picked clean； white and polished； and my
good Dapple's with them； and by that； perhaps； it will be found out
who we are； at least by such as have heard that Sancho Panza never
separated from his ass； nor his ass from Sancho Panza。 Unlucky
wretches； I say again； that our hard fate should not let us die in our
own country and among our own people； where if there was no help for
our misfortune； at any rate there would be some one to grieve for it
and to close our eyes as we passed away！ O comrade and friend； how ill
have I repaid thy faithful services！ Forgive me； and entreat
Fortune； as well as thou canst； to deliver us out of this miserable
strait we are both in； and I promise to put a crown of laurel on thy
head； and make thee look like a poet laureate； and give thee double
feeds。〃
In this strain did Sancho bewail himself； and his ass listened to
him； but answered him never a word； such was the distress and
anguish the poor beast found himself in。 At length； after a night
spent in bitter moanings and lamentations； day came； and by its
light Sancho perceived that it was wholly impossible to escape out
of that pit without help； and he fell to bemoaning his fate and
uttering loud shouts to find out if there was anyone within hearing；
but all his shouting was only crying in the wilderness； for there
was not a soul anywhere in the neighbourhood to hear him； and then
at last he gave himself up for dead。 Dapple was lying on his back； and
Sancho helped him to his feet； which he was scarcely able to keep； and
then taking a piece of bread out of his alforjas which had shared
their fortunes in the fall； he gave it to the ass； to whom it was
not unwelcome； saying to him as if he understood him； 〃With bread
all sorrows are less。〃
And now he perceived on one side of the pit a hole large enough to
admit a person if he stooped and squeezed himself into a small
compass。 Sancho made for it； and entered it by creeping； and found
it wide and spacious on the inside； which he was able to see as a
ray of sunlight that penetrated what might be called the roof showed
it all plainly。 He observed too that it opened and widened out into
another spacious cavity； seeing which he made his way back to where
the ass was； and with a stone began to pick away the clay from the
hole until in a short time he had made room for the beast to pass
easily； and this accomplished； taking him by the halter； he
proceeded to traverse the cavern to see if there was any outlet at the
other end。 He advanced； sometimes in the dark； sometimes without
light； but never without fear； 〃God Almighty help me！〃 said he to
himself； 〃this that is a misadventure to me would make a good
adventure for my master Don Quixote。 He would have been sure to take
these depths and dungeons for flowery gardens or the palaces of
Galiana； and would have counted upon issuing out of this darkness
and imprisonment into some blooming meadow； but I； unlucky that I
am； hopeless and spiritless； expect at every step another pit deeper
than the first to open under my feet and swallow me up for good；
'welcome evil； if thou comest alone。'〃
In this way and with these reflections he seemed to himself to
have travelled rather more than half a league； when at last he
perceived a dim light that looked like daylight and found its way in
on one side； showing that this road； which appeared to him the road to
the other world； led to some opening。
Here Cide Hamete leaves him； and returns to Don Quixote； who in high
spirits and satisfaction was looking forward to the day fixed for
the battle he was to fight with him who had robbed Dona Rodriguez's
daughter of her honour； for whom he hoped to obtain satisfaction for
the wrong and injury shamefully done to her。 It came to pass； then；
that having sallied forth one morning to practise and exercise himself
in what he would have to do in the encounter he expected to find
himself engaged in the next day； as he was putting Rocinante through
his paces or pressing him to the charge； he brought his feet so
close to a pit that but for reining him in tightly it would have
been impossible for him to avoid falling into it。 He pulled him up；
however； without a fall； and coming a little closer examined the
hole without dismounting； but as he was looking at it he heard loud
cries proceeding from it； and by listening attentively was able to
make out that he who uttered them was saying； 〃Ho； above there！ is
there any Christian that hears me； or any charitable gentleman that
will take pity on a sinner buried alive； on an unfortunate disgoverned
governor？〃
It struck Don Quixote that it was the voice of Sancho Panza he
heard； whereat he was taken aback and amazed； and raising his own
voice as much as he could； he cried out； 〃Who is below there？ Who is
that complaining？〃
〃Who should be here； or who should complain；〃 was the answer； 〃but
the forlorn Sancho Panza； for his sins and for his ill…luck governor
of the island of Barataria； squire that was to the famous knight Don
Quixote of La Mancha？〃
When Don Quixote heard this his amazement was redoubled and his
perturbation grew greater than ever； for it suggested itself to his
mind that Sancho must be dead； and that his soul was in torment down
there； and carried away by this idea he exclaimed； 〃I conjure thee
by everything that as a Catholic Christian I can conjure thee by； tell
me who thou art； and if thou art a soul in torment； tell me what
thou wouldst have me do for thee； for as my profession is to give
aid and succour to those that need it in this world； it will also
extend to aiding and succouring the distressed of the other； who
cannot help themselves。〃
〃In that case；〃 answered the voice； 〃your worship who speaks to me
must be my master Don Quixote of La Mancha； nay； from the tone of
the voice it is plain it can be nobody else。〃
〃Don Quixote I am；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃he whose profession it
is to aid and succour the living and the dead in their necessities；
wherefore tell me who thou art； for thou art keeping me in suspense；
because； if thou art my squire Sancho Panza； and art dead； since the
devils have not carried thee off； and thou art by God's mercy in
purgatory； our holy mother the Roman Catholic Church has
intercessory means sufficient to release thee from the pains thou
art in； and I for my part will plead with her to that end； so far as
my substance will go； without further delay； therefore； declare
thyself； and tell me who thou art。〃
〃By all that's good；〃 was the answer； 〃and by the birth of
whomsoever your worship chooses； I swear； Senor Don Quixote of La
Mancha； that I am your squire Sancho Panza； and that I have never died
all my life； but that； having given up my government for reasons
that would require more time to explain； I fell last night into this
pit where I am now； and Dapple is witness and won't let me lie； for
more by token he is here with me。〃
Nor was this all； one would have fancied the ass understood what
Sancho said； because that moment he began to bray so loudly that the
whole cave rang again。
〃Famous testimony！〃 exclaimed Don Quixote； 〃I know that bray as well
as if I was its mother； and thy voice too； my Sancho。 Wait while I
go to the duke's castle； which is close by； and I will bring some
one to take thee out of this pit into which thy sins no doubt have
brought thee。〃
〃Go； your worship；〃 said Sancho； 〃and come back quick for God's
sake； for I cannot bear being buried alive any longer； and I'm dying
of fear。〃
Don Quixote left him； and hastened to the castle to tell the duke
and duchess what had happened Sancho； and they were not a little
astonished at it； they could easily understand his having fallen； from
the confirmatory circumstance of the cave which had been in
existence there from time immemorial； but