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may come into my head； to pass away our time in those secluded regions
where we shall be roaming。 But what is most needful； sirs； is that
each of us should choose the name of the shepherdess he means to
glorify in his verses； and that we should not leave a tree； be it ever
so hard； without writing up and carving her name on it； as is the
habit and custom of love…smitten shepherds。〃
〃That's the very thing；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃though I am relieved
from looking for the name of an imaginary shepherdess； for there's the
peerless Dulcinea del Toboso； the glory of these brooksides； the
ornament of these meadows； the mainstay of beauty； the cream of all
the graces； and； in a word； the being to whom all praise is
appropriate； be it ever so hyperbolical。〃
〃Very true；〃 said the curate； 〃but we the others must look about for
accommodating shepherdesses that will answer our purpose one way or
another。〃
〃And；〃 added Samson Carrasco； 〃if they fail us； we can call them
by the names of the ones in print that the world is filled with；
Filidas； Amarilises； Dianas； Fleridas； Galateas； Belisardas； for as
they sell them in the market…places we may fairly buy them and make
them our own。 If my lady； or I should say my shepherdess； happens to
be called Ana； I'll sing her praises under the name of Anarda； and
if Francisca； I'll call her Francenia； and if Lucia； Lucinda； for it
all comes to the same thing； and Sancho Panza； if he joins this
fraternity； may glorify his wife Teresa Panza as Teresaina。〃
Don Quixote laughed at the adaptation of the name； and the curate
bestowed vast praise upon the worthy and honourable resolution he
had made； and again offered to bear him company all the time that he
could spare from his imperative duties。 And so they took their leave
of him； recommending and beseeching him to take care of his health and
treat himself to a suitable diet。
It so happened his niece and the housekeeper overheard all the three
of them said； and as soon as they were gone they both of them came
in to Don Quixote； and said the niece； 〃What's this； uncle？ Now that
we were thinking you had come back to stay at home and lead a quiet
respectable life there； are you going to get into fresh entanglements；
and turn 'young shepherd； thou that comest here； young shepherd
going there？' Nay！ indeed 'the straw is too hard now to make pipes
of。'〃
〃And；〃 added the housekeeper； 〃will your worship be able to bear；
out in the fields； the heats of summer； and the chills of winter；
and the howling of the wolves？ Not you； for that's a life and a
business for hardy men； bred and seasoned to such work almost from the
time they were in swaddling…clothes。 Why； to make choice of evils；
it's better to be a knight…errant than a shepherd！ Look here； senor；
take my advice… and I'm not giving it to you full of bread and wine；
but fasting； and with fifty years upon my head… stay at home； look
after your affairs； go often to confession； be good to the poor； and
upon my soul be it if any evil comes to you。〃
〃Hold your peace； my daughters；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I know very well
what my duty is； help me to bed； for I don't feel very well； and
rest assured that； knight…errant now or wandering shepherd to be； I
shall never fail to have a care for your interests； as you will see in
the end。〃 And the good wenches （for that they undoubtedly were）； the
housekeeper and niece； helped him to bed； where they gave him
something to eat and made him as comfortable as possible。
CHAPTER LXXIV
OF HOW DON QUIXOTE FELL SICK； AND OF THE WILL HE MADE； AND HOW HE
DIED
AS NOTHING that is man's can last for ever； but all tends ever
downwards from its beginning to its end； and above all man's life； and
as Don Quixote's enjoyed no special dispensation from heaven to stay
its course； its end and close came when he least looked for it。 For…
whether it was of the dejection the thought of his defeat produced； or
of heaven's will that so ordered it… a fever settled upon him and kept
him in his bed for six days； during which he was often visited by
his friends the curate； the bachelor； and the barber； while his good
squire Sancho Panza never quitted his bedside。 They； persuaded that it
was grief at finding himself vanquished； and the object of his
heart； the liberation and disenchantment of Dulcinea； unattained； that
kept him in this state； strove by all the means in their power to
cheer him up； the bachelor bidding him take heart and get up to
begin his pastoral life； for which he himself； he said； had already
composed an eclogue that would take the shine out of all Sannazaro had
ever written； and had bought with his own money two famous dogs to
guard the flock； one called Barcino and the other Butron； which a
herdsman of Quintanar had sold him。
But for all this Don Quixote could not shake off his sadness。 His
friends called in the doctor； who felt his pulse and was not very well
satisfied with it； and said that in any case it would be well for
him to attend to the health of his soul； as that of his body was in
a bad way。 Don Quixote heard this calmly； but not so his
housekeeper； his niece； and his squire； who fell weeping bitterly；
as if they had him lying dead before them。 The doctor's opinion was
that melancholy and depression were bringing him to his end。 Don
Quixote begged them to leave him to himself； as he had a wish to sleep
a little。 They obeyed； and he slept at one stretch； as the saying
is； more than six hours； so that the housekeeper and niece thought
he was going to sleep for ever。 But at the end of that time he woke
up； and in a loud voice exclaimed； 〃Blessed be Almighty God； who has
shown me such goodness。 In truth his mercies are boundless； and the
sins of men can neither limit them nor keep them back！〃
The niece listened with attention to her uncle's words； and they
struck her as more coherent than what usually fell from him； at
least during his illness； so she asked； 〃What are you saying； senor？
Has anything strange occurred？ What mercies or what sins of men are
you talking of？〃
〃The mercies； niece；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃are those that God has this
moment shown me； and with him； as I said； my sins are no impediment to
them。 My reason is now free and clear； rid of the dark shadows of
ignorance that my unhappy constant study of those detestable books
of chivalry cast over it。 Now I see through their absurdities and
deceptions； and it only grieves me that this destruction of my
illusions has come so late that it leaves me no time to make some
amends by reading other books that might be a light to my soul。 Niece；
I feel myself at the point of death； and I would fain meet it in
such a way as to show that my life has not been so ill that I should
leave behind me the name of a madman； for though I have been one； I
would not that the fact should be made plainer at my death。 Call in to
me； my dear； my good friends the curate； the bachelor Samson Carrasco；
and Master Nicholas the barber； for I wish to confess and make my
will。〃 But his niece was saved the trouble by the entrance of the
three。 The instant Don Quixote saw them he exclaimed； 〃Good news for
you； good sirs； that I am no longer Don Quixote of La Mancha； but
Alonso Quixano； whose way of life won for him the name of Good。 Now am
I the enemy of Amadis of Gaul and of the whole countless troop of
his descendants； odious to me now are all the profane stories of
knight…errantry； now I perceive my folly； and the peril into which
reading them brought me； now； by God's mercy schooled into my right
senses； I loathe them。〃
When the three heard him speak in this way； they had no doubt
whatever that some new craze had taken possession of him； and said
Samson； 〃What？ Senor Don Quixote！ Now that we have intelligence of the
lady Dulcinea being disenchanted； are you taking this line； now；
just as we are on the point of becoming shepherds； to pass our lives
singing； like princes； are you thinking of turning hermit？ Hush； for
heaven's sake； be rational and let's have no more nonsense。〃
〃All that nonsense；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that until now has been a
reality to my hurt； my death will； with heaven's help； turn to my
good。 I feel； sirs； that I am rapidly drawing near death； a truce to
jesting； let me have a confessor to confess me； and a notary to make
my will； for in extremities like this； man must not trifle with his
soul； and while the curate is confessing me let some one； I beg； go
for the notary。〃
They looked at one another； wondering at Don Quixote's words； but；
though uncertain； they were inclined to believe him； and one of the
signs by which they came to the conclusion he was dying was this so
sudden and complete return to his senses after having been mad； for to
the words already quoted he added much more； so well expressed； so
devout； and so rational； as to banish all doubt and convince them that
he was sound of mind。 The curate turned them all out； and left alone
with him confessed him。 The bachelor went for the notary and
returned shortly afterwards with him and with Sancho； who； having
already learned