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their jerkins and sayas were of fine brocade； that is to say； the
sayas were rich farthingales of gold embroidered tabby。 Their hair；
that in its golden brightness vied with the beams of the sun itself；
fell loose upon their shoulders and was crowned with garlands twined
with green laurel and red everlasting； and their years to all
appearance were not under fifteen nor above eighteen。 Such was the
spectacle that filled Sancho with amazement； fascinated Don Quixote；
made the sun halt in his course to behold them； and held all four in a
strange silence。 One of the shepherdesses； at length； was the first to
speak and said to Don Quixote； 〃Hold； sir knight； and do not break
these nets； for they are not spread here to do you any harm； but
only for our amusement； and as I know you will ask why they have
been put up； and who we are； I will tell you in a few words。 In a
village some two leagues from this； where there are many people of
quality and rich gentlefolk； it was agreed upon by a number of friends
and relations to come with their wives； sons and daughters；
neighbours； friends and kinsmen； and make holiday in this spot；
which is one of the pleasantest in the whole neighbourhood； setting up
a new pastoral Arcadia among ourselves； we maidens dressing
ourselves as shepherdesses and the youths as shepherds。 We have
prepared two eclogues； one by the famous poet Garcilasso； the other by
the most excellent Camoens； in its own Portuguese tongue； but we
have not as yet acted them。 Yesterday was the first day of our
coming here； we have a few of what they say are called field…tents
pitched among the trees on the bank of an ample brook that
fertilises all these meadows； last night we spread these nets in the
trees here to snare the silly little birds that startled by the
noise we make may fly into them。 If you please to he our guest； senor；
you will be welcomed heartily and courteously； for here just now
neither care nor sorrow shall enter。〃
She held her peace and said no more； and Don Quixote made answer；
〃Of a truth； fairest lady； Actaeon when he unexpectedly beheld Diana
bathing in the stream could not have been more fascinated and
wonderstruck than I at the sight of your beauty。 I commend your mode
of entertainment； and thank you for the kindness of your invitation；
and if I can serve you； you may command me with full confidence of
being obeyed； for my profession is none other than to show myself
grateful； and ready to serve persons of all conditions； but especially
persons of quality such as your appearance indicates； and if；
instead of taking up； as they probably do； but a small space； these
nets took up the whole surface of the globe； I would seek out new
worlds through which to pass； so as not to break them； and that ye may
give some degree of credence to this exaggerated language of mine；
know that it is no less than Don Quixote of La Mancha that makes
this declaration to you； if indeed it be that such a name has
reached your ears。〃
〃Ah！ friend of my soul；〃 instantly exclaimed the other
shepherdess； 〃what great good fortune has befallen us！ Seest thou this
gentleman we have before us？ Well then let me tell thee he is the most
valiant and the most devoted and the most courteous gentleman in all
the world； unless a history of his achievements that has been
printed and I have read is telling lies and deceiving us。 I will lay a
wager that this good fellow who is with him is one Sancho Panza his
squire； whose drolleries none can equal。〃
〃That's true；〃 said Sancho； 〃I am that same droll and squire you
speak of； and this gentleman is my master Don Quixote of La Mancha；
the same that's in the history and that they talk about。〃
〃Oh； my friend；〃 said the other； 〃let us entreat him to stay； for it
will give our fathers and brothers infinite pleasure； I too have heard
just what thou hast told me of the valour of the one and the
drolleries of the other； and what is more； of him they say that he
is the most constant and loyal lover that was ever heard of； and
that his lady is one Dulcinea del Toboso； to whom all over Spain the
palm of beauty is awarded。〃
〃And justly awarded；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃unless； indeed； your
unequalled beauty makes it a matter of doubt。 But spare yourselves the
trouble； ladies； of pressing me to stay； for the urgent calls of my
profession do not allow me to take rest under any circumstances。〃
At this instant there came up to the spot where the four stood a
brother of one of the two shepherdesses； like them in shepherd
costume； and as richly and gaily dressed as they were。 They told him
that their companion was the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha； and the
other Sancho his squire； of whom he knew already from having read
their history。 The gay shepherd offered him his services and begged
that he would accompany him to their tents； and Don Quixote had to
give way and comply。 And now the gave was started； and the nets were
filled with a variety of birds that deceived by the colour fell into
the danger they were flying from。 Upwards of thirty persons； all gaily
attired as shepherds and shepherdesses； assembled on the spot； and
were at once informed who Don Quixote and his squire were； whereat
they were not a little delighted； as they knew of him already
through his history。 They repaired to the tents； where they found
tables laid out； and choicely； plentifully； and neatly furnished。 They
treated Don Quixote as a person of distinction； giving him the place
of honour； and all observed him； and were full of astonishment at
the spectacle。 At last the cloth being removed； Don Quixote with great
composure lifted up his voice and said：
〃One of the greatest sins that men are guilty of is… some will say
pride… but I say ingratitude； going by the common saying that hell
is full of ingrates。 This sin； so far as it has lain in my power； I
have endeavoured to avoid ever since I have enjoyed the faculty of
reason； and if I am unable to requite good deeds that have been done
me by other deeds； I substitute the desire to do so； and if that be
not enough I make them known publicly； for he who declares and makes
known the good deeds done to him would repay them by others if it were
in his power； and for the most part those who receive are the
inferiors of those who give。 Thus； God is superior to all because he
is the supreme giver； and the offerings of man fall short by an
infinite distance of being a full return for the gifts of God； but
gratitude in some degree makes up for this deficiency and shortcoming。
I therefore； grateful for the favour that has been extended to me
here； and unable to make a return in the same measure； restricted as I
am by the narrow limits of my power； offer what I can and what I
have to offer in my own way； and so I declare that for two full days I
will maintain in the middle of this highway leading to Saragossa； that
these ladies disguised as shepherdesses； who are here present； are the
fairest and most courteous maidens in the world； excepting only the
peerless Dulcinea del Toboso； sole mistress of my thoughts； be it said
without offence to those who hear me； ladies and gentlemen。〃
On hearing this Sancho； who had been listening with great attention；
cried out in a loud voice； 〃Is it possible there is anyone in the
world who will dare to say and swear that this master of mine is a
madman？ Say； gentlemen shepherds； is there a village priest； be he
ever so wise or learned； who could say what my master has said； or
is there knight…errant； whatever renown he may have as a man of
valour； that could offer what my master has offered now？〃
Don Quixote turned upon Sancho； and with a countenance glowing
with anger said to him； 〃Is it possible； Sancho； there is anyone in
the whole world who will say thou art not a fool； with a lining to
match； and I know not what trimmings of impertinence and roguery？
Who asked thee to meddle in my affairs； or to inquire whether I am a
wise man or a blockhead？ Hold thy peace； answer me not a word；
saddle Rocinante if he be unsaddled； and let us go to put my offer
into execution； for with the right that I have on my side thou
mayest reckon as vanquished all who shall venture to question it；〃 and
in a great rage； and showing his anger plainly； he rose from his seat；
leaving the company lost in wonder； and making them feel doubtful
whether they ought to regard him as a madman or a rational being。 In
the end； though they sought to dissuade him from involving himself
in such a challenge； assuring him they admitted his gratitude as fully
established； and needed no fresh proofs to be convinced of his valiant
spirit； as those related in the history of his exploits were
sufficient； still Don Quixote persisted in his resolve； and mounted on
Rocinante； bracing his buckler on his arm and grasping his lance； he
posted himself in the middle of a high road that was not far from
the green meadow。 Sancho followed on Dapple； together with all the
members of the pastoral gathering； eager to see what would be the
upshot of his vainglorious and extraordinary proposal。
Don Quixote； then； having； as has been said； planted himself in
the middle of the road； made the wel