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the confirmatory circumstance of the cave which had been in
existence there from time immemorial； but they could not imagine how
he had quitted the government without their receiving any intimation
of his coming。 To be brief； they fetched ropes and tackle； as the
saying is； and by dint of many hands and much labour they drew up
Dapple and Sancho Panza out of the darkness into the light of day。 A
student who saw him remarked； 〃That's the way all bad governors should
come out of their governments； as this sinner comes out of the
depths of the pit； dead with hunger； pale； and I suppose without a
farthing。〃
Sancho overheard him and said； 〃It is eight or ten days； brother
growler； since I entered upon the government of the island they gave
me； and all that time I never had a bellyful of victuals； no not for
an hour； doctors persecuted me and enemies crushed my bones； nor had I
any opportunity of taking bribes or levying taxes； and if that be
the case； as it is； I don't deserve； I think； to come out in this
fashion； but 'man proposes and God disposes；' and God knows what is
best； and what suits each one best； and 'as the occasion； so the
behaviour；' and 'let nobody say 〃I won't drink of this water；〃' and
'where one thinks there are flitches； there are no pegs；' God knows my
meaning and that's enough； I say no more； though I could。〃
〃Be not angry or annoyed at what thou hearest； Sancho；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃or there will never be an end of it； keep a safe
conscience and let them say what they like； for trying to stop
slanderers' tongues is like trying to put gates to the open plain。
If a governor comes out of his government rich； they say he has been a
thief； and if he comes out poor； that he has been a noodle and a
blockhead。〃
〃They'll be pretty sure this time；〃 said Sancho； 〃to set me down for
a fool rather than a thief。〃
Thus talking； and surrounded by boys and a crowd of people； they
reached the castle； where in one of the corridors the duke and duchess
stood waiting for them； but Sancho would not go up to see the duke
until he had first put up Dapple in the stable； for he said he had
passed a very bad night in his last quarters； then he went upstairs to
see his lord and lady； and kneeling before them he said； 〃Because it
was your highnesses' pleasure； not because of any desert of my own；
I went to govern your island of Barataria； which 'I entered naked； and
naked I find myself； I neither lose nor gain。' Whether I have governed
well or ill； I have had witnesses who will say what they think fit。
I have answered questions； I have decided causes； and always dying
of hunger； for Doctor Pedro Recio of Tirteafuera； the island and
governor doctor； would have it so。 Enemies attacked us by night and
put us in a great quandary； but the people of the island say they came
off safe and victorious by the might of my arm； and may God give
them as much health as there's truth in what they say。 In short；
during that time I have weighed the cares and responsibilities
governing brings with it； and by my reckoning I find my shoulders
can't bear them； nor are they a load for my loins or arrows for my
quiver； and so； before the government threw me over I preferred to
throw the government over； and yesterday morning I left the island
as I found it； with the same streets； houses； and roofs it had when
I entered it。 I asked no loan of anybody； nor did I try to fill my
pocket； and though I meant to make some useful laws； I made hardly
any； as I was afraid they would not be kept； for in that case it comes
to the same thing to make them or not to make them。 I quitted the
island； as I said； without any escort except my ass； I fell into a
pit； I pushed on through it； until this morning by the light of the
sun I saw an outlet； but not so easy a one but that； had not heaven
sent me my master Don Quixote； I'd have stayed there till the end of
the world。 So now my lord and lady duke and duchess； here is your
governor Sancho Panza； who in the bare ten days he has held the
government has come by the knowledge that he would not give anything
to be governor； not to say of an island； but of the whole world； and
that point being settled； kissing your worships' feet； and imitating
the game of the boys when they say； 'leap thou； and give me one；' I
take a leap out of the government and pass into the service of my
master Don Quixote； for after all； though in it I eat my bread in fear
and trembling； at any rate I take my fill； and for my part； so long as
I'm full； it's all alike to me whether it's with carrots or with
partridges。〃
Here Sancho brought his long speech to an end； Don Quixote having
been the whole time in dread of his uttering a host of absurdities；
and when he found him leave off with so few； he thanked heaven in
his heart。 The duke embraced Sancho and told him he was heartily sorry
he had given up the government so soon； but that he would see that
he was provided with some other post on his estate less onerous and
more profitable。 The duchess also embraced him； and gave orders that
he should be taken good care of； as it was plain to see he had been
badly treated and worse bruised。
CHAPTER LVI
OF THE PRODIGIOUS AND UNPARALLELED BATTLE THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN
DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA AND THE LACQUEY TOSILOS IN DEFENCE OF THE
DAUGHTER OF DONA RODRIGUEZ
THE duke and duchess had no reason to regret the joke that had
been played upon Sancho Panza in giving him the government； especially
as their majordomo returned the same day； and gave them a minute
account of almost every word and deed that Sancho uttered or did
during the time； and to wind up with； eloquently described to them the
attack upon the island and Sancho's fright and departure； with which
they were not a little amused。 After this the history goes on to say
that the day fixed for the battle arrived； and that the duke； after
having repeatedly instructed his lacquey Tosilos how to deal with
Don Quixote so as to vanquish him without killing or wounding him；
gave orders to have the heads removed from the lances； telling Don
Quixote that Christian charity； on which he plumed himself； could
not suffer the battle to be fought with so much risk and danger to
life； and that he must be content with the offer of a battlefield on
his territory （though that was against the decree of the holy Council；
which prohibits all challenges of the sort） and not push such an
arduous venture to its extreme limits。 Don Quixote bade his excellence
arrange all matters connected with the affair as he pleased； as on his
part he would obey him in everything。 The dread day； then； having
arrived； and the duke having ordered a spacious stand to be erected
facing the court of the castle for the judges of the field and the
appellant duennas； mother and daughter； vast crowds flocked from all
the villages and hamlets of the neighbourhood to see the novel
spectacle of the battle； nobody； dead or alive； in those parts
having ever seen or heard of such a one。
The first person to enter the…field and the lists was the master
of the ceremonies； who surveyed and paced the whole ground to see that
there was nothing unfair and nothing concealed to make the
combatants stumble or fall； then the duennas entered and seated
themselves； enveloped in mantles covering their eyes； nay even their
bosoms； and displaying no slight emotion as Don Quixote appeared in
the lists。 Shortly afterwards； accompanied by several trumpets and
mounted on a powerful steed that threatened to crush the whole
place； the great lacquey Tosilos made his appearance on one side of
the courtyard with his visor down and stiffly cased in a suit of stout
shining armour。 The horse was a manifest Frieslander； broad…backed and
flea…bitten； and with half a hundred of wool hanging to each of his
fetlocks。 The gallant combatant came well primed by his master the
duke as to how he was to bear himself against the valiant Don
Quixote of La Mancha； being warned that he must on no account slay
him； but strive to shirk the first encounter so as to avoid the risk
of killing him； as he was sure to do if he met him full tilt。 He
crossed the courtyard at a walk； and coming to where the duennas
were placed stopped to look at her who demanded him for a husband； the
marshal of the field summoned Don Quixote； who had already presented
himself in the courtyard； and standing by the side of Tosilos he
addressed the duennas； and asked them if they consented that Don
Quixote of La Mancha should do battle for their right。 They said
they did； and that whatever he should do in that behalf they
declared rightly done； final and valid。 By this time the duke and
duchess had taken their places in a gallery commanding the
enclosure； which was filled to overflowing with a multitude of
people eager to see this perilous and unparalleled encounter。 The
conditions of the combat were that if Don Quixote proved the victor
his antagonist was to marry the daughter of Dona Rodriguez； but if
he should be vanquished his opponent was released from the promise
that was claimed against him and from all obligations to give
satisfaction。 The master of the ceremonies apportioned the sun