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〃And is it finished？〃 asked Don Quixote。
〃How can it be finished；〃 said the other； 〃when my life is not yet
finished？ All that is written is from my birth down to the point
when they sent me to the galleys this last time。〃
〃Then you have been there before？〃 said Don Quixote。
〃In the service of God and the king I have been there for four years
before now； and I know by this time what the biscuit and courbash
are like；〃 replied Gines； 〃and it is no great grievance to me to go
back to them； for there I shall have time to finish my book； I have
still many things left to say； and in the galleys of Spain there is
more than enough leisure； though I do not want much for what I have to
write； for I have it by heart。〃
〃You seem a clever fellow；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃And an unfortunate one；〃 replied Gines； 〃for misfortune always
persecutes good wit。〃
〃It persecutes rogues；〃 said the commissary。
〃I told you already to go gently； master commissary；〃 said
Pasamonte； 〃their lordships yonder never gave you that staff to
ill…treat us wretches here； but to conduct and take us where his
majesty orders you； if not； by the life of…never mind…； it may be that
some day the stains made in the inn will come out in the scouring； let
everyone hold his tongue and behave well and speak better； and now let
us march on； for we have had quite enough of this entertainment。〃
The commissary lifted his staff to strike Pasamonte in return for
his threats； but Don Quixote came between them； and begged him not
to ill…use him； as it was not too much to allow one who had his
hands tied to have his tongue a trifle free； and turning to the
whole chain of them he said：
〃From all you have told me； dear brethren； make out clearly that
though they have punished you for your faults； the punishments you are
about to endure do not give you much pleasure； and that you go to them
very much against the grain and against your will； and that perhaps
this one's want of courage under torture； that one's want of money；
the other's want of advocacy； and lastly the perverted judgment of the
judge may have been the cause of your ruin and of your failure to
obtain the justice you had on your side。 All which presents itself now
to my mind； urging； persuading； and even compelling me to
demonstrate in your case the purpose for which Heaven sent me into the
world and caused me to make profession of the order of chivalry to
which I belong； and the vow I took therein to give aid to those in
need and under the oppression of the strong。 But as I know that it
is a mark of prudence not to do by foul means what may be done by
fair； I will ask these gentlemen； the guards and commissary； to be
so good as to release you and let you go in peace； as there will be no
lack of others to serve the king under more favourable
circumstances； for it seems to me a hard case to make slaves of
those whom God and nature have made free。 Moreover； sirs of the
guard；〃 added Don Quixote； 〃these poor fellows have done nothing to
you； let each answer for his own sins yonder； there is a God in Heaven
who will not forget to punish the wicked or reward the good； and it is
not fitting that honest men should be the instruments of punishment to
others； they being therein no way concerned。 This request I make
thus gently and quietly； that； if you comply with it； I may have
reason for thanking you； and； if you will not voluntarily； this
lance and sword together with the might of my arm shall compel you
to comply with it by force。〃
〃Nice nonsense！〃 said the commissary； 〃a fine piece of pleasantry he
has come out with at last！ He wants us to let the king's prisoners go；
as if we had any authority to release them； or he to order us to do
so！ Go your way； sir； and good luck to you； put that basin straight
that you've got on your head； and don't go looking for three feet on a
cat。〃
'Tis you that are the cat； rat； and rascal；〃 replied Don Quixote；
and acting on the word he fell upon him so suddenly that without
giving him time to defend himself he brought him to the ground
sorely wounded with a lance…thrust； and lucky it was for him that it
was the one that had the musket。 The other guards stood
thunderstruck and amazed at this unexpected event； but recovering
presence of mind； those on horseback seized their swords； and those on
foot their javelins； and attacked Don Quixote； who was waiting for
them with great calmness； and no doubt it would have gone badly with
him if the galley slaves； seeing the chance before them of
liberating themselves； had not effected it by contriving to break
the chain on which they were strung。 Such was the confusion； that
the guards； now rushing at the galley slaves who were breaking
loose； now to attack Don Quixote who was waiting for them； did nothing
at all that was of any use。 Sancho； on his part； gave a helping hand
to release Gines de Pasamonte； who was the first to leap forth upon
the plain free and unfettered； and who； attacking the prostrate
commissary； took from him his sword and the musket； with which； aiming
at one and levelling at another； he； without ever discharging it；
drove every one of the guards off the field； for they took to
flight； as well to escape Pasamonte's musket； as the showers of stones
the now released galley slaves were raining upon them。 Sancho was
greatly grieved at the affair； because he anticipated that those who
had fled would report the matter to the Holy Brotherhood； who at the
summons of the alarm…bell would at once sally forth in quest of the
offenders； and he said so to his master； and entreated him to leave
the place at once； and go into hiding in the sierra that was close by。
〃That is all very well；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but I know what must
be done now；〃 and calling together all the galley slaves； who were now
running riot； and had stripped the commissary to the skin； he
collected them round him to hear what he had to say； and addressed
them as follows： 〃To be grateful for benefits received is the part
of persons of good birth； and one of the sins most offensive to God is
ingratitude； I say so because； sirs； ye have already seen by
manifest proof the benefit ye have received of me； in return for which
I desire； and it is my good pleasure that； laden with that chain which
I have taken off your necks； ye at once set out and proceed to the
city of El Toboso； and there present yourselves before the lady
Dulcinea del Toboso； and say to her that her knight； he of the
Rueful Countenance； sends to commend himself to her； and that ye
recount to her in full detail all the particulars of this notable
adventure； up to the recovery of your longed…for liberty； and this
done ye may go where ye will； and good fortune attend you。〃
Gines de Pasamonte made answer for all； saying； 〃That which you；
sir； our deliverer； demand of us； is of all impossibilities the most
impossible to comply with； because we cannot go together along the
roads； but only singly and separate； and each one his own way；
endeavouring to hide ourselves in the bowels of the earth to escape
the Holy Brotherhood； which； no doubt； will come out in search of
us。 What your worship may do； and fairly do； is to change this service
and tribute as regards the lady Dulcinea del Toboso for a certain
quantity of ave…marias and credos which we will say for your worship's
intention； and this is a condition that can be complied with by
night as by day； running or resting； in peace or in war； but to
imagine that we are going now to return to the flesh…pots of Egypt；
I mean to take up our chain and set out for El Toboso； is to imagine
that it is now night； though it is not yet ten in the morning； and
to ask this of us is like asking pears of the elm tree。〃
〃Then by all that's good；〃 said Don Quixote （now stirred to
wrath）； 〃Don son of a bitch； Don Ginesillo de Paropillo； or whatever
your name is； you will have to go yourself alone； with your tail
between your legs and the whole chain on your back。〃
Pasamonte； who was anything but meek （being by this time
thoroughly convinced that Don Quixote was not quite right in his
head as he had committed such a vagary as to set them free）； finding
himself abused in this fashion； gave the wink to his companions； and
falling back they began to shower stones on Don Quixote at such a rate
that he was quite unable to protect himself with his buckler； and poor
Rocinante no more heeded the spur than if he had been made of brass。
Sancho planted himself behind his ass； and with him sheltered
himself from the hailstorm that poured on both of them。 Don Quixote
was unable to shield himself so well but that more pebbles than I
could count struck him full on the body with such force that they
brought him to the ground； and the instant he fell the student pounced
upon him； snatched the basin from his head； and with it struck three
or four blows on his shoulders； and as many more on the ground；
knocking it almost to pieces。 They then stripped him of a jacket
that he wore over his armour； and they would have stripped off his
stockings if his greaves had not prevented them。 From Sancho they took
his coat； leaving him in his shirt…sleeves； and dividing amo