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two fingers of his hand。 Such was the force of the first blow and of
the second； that the poor knight in spite of himself came down
backwards off his horse。 The shepherds came up； and felt sure they had
killed him； so in all haste they collected their flock together；
took up the dead beasts； of which there were more than seven； and made
off without waiting to ascertain anything further。
All this time Sancho stood on the hill watching the crazy feats
his master was performing； and tearing his beard and cursing the
hour and the occasion when fortune had made him acquainted with him。
Seeing him； then； brought to the ground； and that the shepherds had
taken themselves off； he ran to him and found him in very bad case；
though not unconscious； and said he：
〃Did I not tell you to come back； Senor Don Quixote； and that what
you were going to attack were not armies but droves of sheep？〃
〃That's how that thief of a sage； my enemy； can alter and falsify
things；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃thou must know； Sancho； that it is a
very easy matter for those of his sort to make us believe what they
choose； and this malignant being who persecutes me； envious of the
glory he knew I was to win in this battle； has turned the squadrons of
the enemy into droves of sheep。 At any rate； do this much； I beg of
thee； Sancho； to undeceive thyself； and see that what I say is true；
mount thy ass and follow them quietly； and thou shalt see that when
they have gone some little distance from this they will return to
their original shape and； ceasing to be sheep； become men in all
respects as I described them to thee at first。 But go not just yet；
for I want thy help and assistance； come hither； and see how many of
my teeth and grinders are missing； for I feel as if there was not
one left in my mouth。〃
Sancho came so close that he almost put his eyes into his mouth； now
just at that moment the balsam had acted on the stomach of Don
Quixote； so； at the very instant when Sancho came to examine his
mouth； he discharged all its contents with more force than a musket；
and full into the beard of the compassionate squire。
〃Holy Mary！〃 cried Sancho； 〃what is this that has happened me？
Clearly this sinner is mortally wounded； as he vomits blood from the
mouth；〃 but considering the matter a little more closely he
perceived by the colour； taste； and smell； that it was not blood but
the balsam from the flask which he had seen him drink； and he was
taken with such a loathing that his stomach turned； and he vomited
up his inside over his very master； and both were left in a precious
state。 Sancho ran to his ass to get something wherewith to clean
himself； and relieve his master； out of his alforjas； but not
finding them； he well…nigh took leave of his senses； and cursed
himself anew； and in his heart resolved to quit his master and
return home； even though he forfeited the wages of his service and all
hopes of the promised island。
Don Quixote now rose； and putting his left hand to his mouth to keep
his teeth from falling out altogether； with the other he laid hold
of the bridle of Rocinante； who had never stirred from his master's
side… so loyal and well…behaved was he… and betook himself to where
the squire stood leaning over his ass with his hand to his cheek； like
one in deep dejection。 Seeing him in this mood； looking so sad； Don
Quixote said to him：
〃Bear in mind； Sancho； that one man is no more than another；
unless he does more than another； all these tempests that fall upon us
are signs that fair weather is coming shortly； and that things will go
well with us； for it is impossible for good or evil to last for
ever； and hence it follows that the evil having lasted long； the
good must be now nigh at hand； so thou must not distress thyself at
the misfortunes which happen to me； since thou hast no share in them。〃
〃How have I not？〃 replied Sancho； 〃was he whom they blanketed
yesterday perchance any other than my father's son？ and the alforjas
that are missing to…day with all my treasures； did they belong to
any other but myself？〃
〃What！ are the alforjas missing； Sancho？〃 said Don Quixote。
〃Yes； they are missing；〃 answered Sancho。
〃In that case we have nothing to eat to…day；〃 replied Don Quixote。
〃It would be so；〃 answered Sancho； 〃if there were none of the
herbs your worship says you know in these meadows； those with which
knights…errant as unlucky as your worship are wont to supply such…like
shortcomings。〃
〃For all that；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃I would rather have just
now a quarter of bread； or a loaf and a couple of pilchards' heads；
than all the herbs described by Dioscorides； even with Doctor Laguna's
notes。 Nevertheless； Sancho the Good； mount thy beast and come along
with me； for God； who provides for all things； will not fail us
（more especially when we are so active in his service as we are）；
since he fails not the midges of the air； nor the grubs of the
earth； nor the tadpoles of the water； and is so merciful that he
maketh his sun to rise on the good and on the evil； and sendeth rain
on the unjust and on the just。〃
〃Your worship would make a better preacher than knight…errant；〃 said
Sancho。
〃Knights…errant knew and ought to know everything； Sancho；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃for there were knights…errant in former times as well
qualified to deliver a sermon or discourse in the middle of an
encampment； as if they had graduated in the University of Paris；
whereby we may see that the lance has never blunted the pen； nor the
pen the lance。〃
〃Well； be it as your worship says；〃 replied Sancho； 〃let us be off
now and find some place of shelter for the night； and God grant it may
be somewhere where there are no blankets； nor blanketeers； nor
phantoms； nor enchanted Moors； for if there are； may the devil take
the whole concern。〃
〃Ask that of God； my son；〃 said Don Quixote； and do thou lead on
where thou wilt； for this time I leave our lodging to thy choice；
but reach me here thy hand； and feel with thy finger； and find out how
many of my teeth and grinders are missing from this right side of
the upper jaw； for it is there I feel the pain。〃
Sancho put in his fingers； and feeling about asked him； 〃How many
grinders used your worship have on this side？〃
〃Four；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃besides the back…tooth； all whole
and quite sound。〃
〃Mind what you are saying； senor。〃
〃I say four； if not five；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃for never in my
life have I had tooth or grinder drawn； nor has any fallen out or been
destroyed by any decay or rheum。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Sancho； 〃in this lower side your worship has no
more than two grinders and a half； and in the upper neither a half nor
any at all； for it is all as smooth as the palm of my hand。〃
〃Luckless that I am！〃 said Don Quixote； hearing the sad news his
squire gave him； 〃I had rather they despoiled me of an arm； so it were
not the sword…arm； for I tell thee； Sancho； a mouth without teeth is
like a mill without a millstone； and a tooth is much more to be prized
than a diamond； but we who profess the austere order of chivalry are
liable to all this。 Mount； friend； and lead the way； and I will follow
thee at whatever pace thou wilt。〃
Sancho did as he bade him； and proceeded in the direction in which
he thought he might find refuge without quitting the high road；
which was there very much frequented。 As they went along； then； at a
slow pace… for the pain in Don Quixote's jaws kept him uneasy and
ill…disposed for speed… Sancho thought it well to amuse and divert him
by talk of some kind； and among the things he said to him was that
which will be told in the following chapter。
CHAPTER XIX
OF THE SHREWD DISCOURSE WHICH SANCHO HELD WITH HIS MASTER； AND OF
THE ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL HIM WITH A DEAD BODY； TOGETHER WITH OTHER
NOTABLE OCCURRENCES
〃IT SEEMS to me； senor； that all these mishaps that have befallen us
of late have been without any doubt a punishment for the offence
committed by your worship against the order of chivalry in not keeping
the oath you made not to eat bread off a tablecloth or embrace the
queen； and all the rest of it that your worship swore to observe until
you had taken that helmet of Malandrino's； or whatever the Moor is
called； for I do not very well remember。〃
〃Thou art very right； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but to tell the
truth； it had escaped my memory； and likewise thou mayest rely upon it
that the affair of the blanket happened to thee because of thy fault
in not reminding me of it in time； but I will make amends； for there
are ways of compounding for everything in the order of chivalry。〃
〃Why！ have I taken an oath of some sort； then？〃 said Sancho。
〃It makes no matter that thou hast not taken an oath；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃suffice it that I see thou art not quite clear of
complicity； and whether or no； it will not be ill done to provide
ourselves with a remedy。〃
〃In that case；〃 said Sancho； 〃mind that your worship does not forget
this as you did the oath； perhaps the phantoms may take it into
their heads to amuse themselves once more with me； or even with your
worship if they see you so obstinate。〃
While engaged in this an