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valise； and proven。 supremely happy because the duke's majordomo；
the same that had acted the part of the Trifaldi； had given him a
little purse with two hundred gold crowns to meet the necessary
expenses of the road； but of this Don Quixote knew nothing as yet。
While all were； as has been said； observing him； suddenly from among
the duennas and handmaidens the impudent and witty Altisidora lifted
up her voice and said in pathetic tones：
Give ear； cruel knight；
Draw rein； where's the need
Of spurring the flanks
Of that ill…broken steed？
From what art thou flying？
No dragon I am；
Not even a sheep；
But a tender young lamb。
Thou hast jilted a maiden
As fair to behold
As nymph of Diana
Or Venus of old。
Bireno； AEneas； what worse shall I call thee？
Barabbas go with thee！ All evil befall thee！
In thy claws； ruthless robber；
Thou bearest away
The heart of a meek
Loving maid for thy prey；
Three kerchiefs thou stealest；
And garters a pair；
From legs than the whitest
Of marble more fair；
And the sighs that pursue thee
Would burn to the ground
Two thousand Troy Towns；
If so many were found。
Bireno； AEneas； what worse shall I call thee？
Barabbas go with thee！ All evil befall thee！
May no bowels of mercy
To Sancho be granted；
And thy Dulcinea
Be left still enchanted；
May thy falsehood to me
Find its punishment in her；
For in my land the just
Often pays for the sinner。
May thy grandest adventures
Discomfitures prove；
May thy joys be all dreams；
And forgotten thy love。
Bireno； AEneas； what worse shall I call thee？
Barabbas go with thee！ All evil befall thee！
May thy name be abhorred
For thy conduct to ladies；
From London to England；
From Seville to Cadiz；
May thy cards be unlucky；
Thy hands contain ne'er a
King； seven； or ace
When thou playest primera；
When thy corns are cut
May it be to the quick；
When thy grinders are drawn
May the roots of them stick。
Bireno； AEneas； what worse shall I call thee？
Barabbas go with thee！ All evil befall thee！
All the while the unhappy Altisidora was bewailing herself in the
above strain Don Quixote stood staring at her； and without uttering
a word in reply to her he turned round to Sancho and said； 〃Sancho
my friend； I conjure thee by the life of thy forefathers tell me the
truth； say； hast thou by any chance taken the three kerchiefs and
the garters this love…sick maid speaks of？〃
To this Sancho made answer； 〃The three kerchiefs I have； but the
garters； as much as 'over the hills of Ubeda。'〃
The duchess was amazed at Altisidora's assurance； she knew that
she was bold； lively； and impudent； but not so much so as to venture
to make free in this fashion； and not being prepared for the joke； her
astonishment was all the greater。 The duke had a mind to keep up the
sport； so he said； 〃It does not seem to me well done in you； sir
knight； that after having received the hospitality that has been
offered you in this very castle； you should have ventured to carry off
even three kerchiefs； not to say my handmaid's garters。 It shows a bad
heart and does not tally with your reputation。 Restore her garters； or
else I defy you to mortal combat； for I am not afraid of rascally
enchanters changing or altering my features as they changed his who
encountered you into those of my lacquey； Tosilos。〃
〃God forbid；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that I should draw my sword against
your illustrious person from which I have received such great favours。
The kerchiefs I will restore； as Sancho says he has them； as to the
garters that is impossible； for I have not got them； neither has he；
and if your handmaiden here will look in her hiding…places； depend
upon it she will find them。 I have never been a thief； my lord duke；
nor do I mean to be so long as I live； if God cease not to have me
in his keeping。 This damsel by her own confession speaks as one in
love； for which I am not to blame； and therefore need not ask
pardon； either of her or of your excellence； whom I entreat to have
a better opinion of me； and once more to give me leave to pursue my
journey。〃
〃And may God so prosper it； Senor Don Quixote；〃 said the duchess；
〃that we may always hear good news of your exploits； God speed you；
for the longer you stay； the more you inflame the hearts of the
damsels who behold you； and as for this one of mine； I will so
chastise her that she will not transgress again； either with her
eyes or with her words。〃
〃One word and no more； O valiant Don Quixote； I ask you to hear；〃
said Altisidora； 〃and that is that I beg your pardon about the theft
of the garters； for by God and upon my soul I have got them on； and
I have fallen into the same blunder as he did who went looking for his
ass being all the while mounted on it。〃
〃Didn't I say so？〃 said Sancho。 〃I'm a likely one to hide thefts！
Why if I wanted to deal in them； opportunities came ready enough to me
in my government。〃
Don Quixote bowed his head； and saluted the duke and duchess and all
the bystanders； and wheeling Rocinante round； Sancho following him
on Dapple； he rode out of the castle； shaping his course for
Saragossa。
CHAPTER LVIII
WHICH TELLS HOW ADVENTURES CAME CROWDING ON DON QUIXOTE IN SUCH
NUMBERS THAT THEY GAVE ONE ANOTHER NO BREATHING…TIME
WHEN Don Quixote saw himself in open country； free； and relieved
from the attentions of Altisidora； he felt at his ease； and in fresh
spirits to take up the pursuit of chivalry once more； and turning to
Sancho he said； 〃Freedom； Sancho； is one of the most precious gifts
that heaven has bestowed upon men； no treasures that the earth holds
buried or the sea conceals can compare with it； for freedom； as for
honour； life may and should be ventured； and on the other hand；
captivity is the greatest evil that can fall to the lot of man。 I
say this； Sancho； because thou hast seen the good cheer； the abundance
we have enjoyed in this castle we are leaving； well then； amid those
dainty banquets and snow…cooled beverages I felt as though I were
undergoing the straits of hunger； because I did not enjoy them with
the same freedom as if they had been mine own； for the sense of
being under an obligation to return benefits and favours received is a
restraint that checks the independence of the spirit。 Happy he； to
whom heaven has given a piece of bread for which he is not bound to
give thanks to any but heaven itself！〃
〃For all your worship says；〃 said Sancho； 〃it is not becoming that
there should he no thanks on our part for two hundred gold crowns that
the duke's majordomo has given me in a little purse which I carry next
my heart； like a warming plaster or comforter； to meet any chance
calls； for we shan't always find castles where they'll entertain us；
now and then we may light upon roadside inns where they'll cudgel us。〃
In conversation of this sort the knight and squire errant were
pursuing their journey； when； after they had gone a little more than
half a league； they perceived some dozen men dressed like labourers
stretched upon their cloaks on the grass of a green meadow eating
their dinner。 They had beside them what seemed to be white sheets
concealing some objects under them； standing upright or lying flat；
and arranged at intervals。 Don Quixote approached the diners； and；
saluting them courteously first； he asked them what it was those
cloths covered。 〃Senor；〃 answered one of the party； 〃under these
cloths are some images carved in relief intended for a retablo we
are putting up in our village； we carry them covered up that they
may not be soiled； and on our shoulders that they may not be broken。〃
〃With your good leave；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I should like to see
them； for images that are carried so carefully no doubt must be fine
ones。〃
〃I should think they were！〃 said the other； 〃let the money they cost
speak for that； for as a matter of fact there is not one of them
that does not stand us in more than fifty ducats； and that your
worship may judge； wait a moment； and you shall see with your own
eyes；〃 and getting up from his dinner he went and uncovered the
first image； which proved to be one of Saint George on horseback
with a serpent writhing at his feet and the lance thrust down its
throat with all that fierceness that is usually depicted。 The whole
group was one blaze of gold； as the saying is。 On seeing it Don
Quixote said； 〃That knight was one of the best knights…errant the army
of heaven ever owned； he was called Don Saint George； and he was
moreover a defender of maidens。 Let us see this next one。〃
The man uncovered it； and it was seen to be that of Saint Martin
on his horse； dividing his cloak with the beggar。 The instant Don
Quixote saw it he said； 〃This knight too was one of the Christian
adventurers； but I believe he was generous rather than valiant；