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fall without knowing why or wherefore。〃
〃That's exactly what I say；〃 said Sancho； 〃I found it too； and I
would not go within a stone's throw of it； there I left it； and
there it lies just as it was； for I don't want a dog with a bell。〃
〃Tell me； good man；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃do you know who is the owner
of this property？〃
〃All I can tell you；〃 said the goatherd； 〃is that about six months
ago； more or less； there arrived at a shepherd's hut three leagues；
perhaps； away from this； a youth of well…bred appearance and
manners； mounted on that same mule which lies dead here； and with
the same saddle…pad and valise which you say you found and did not
touch。 He asked us what part of this sierra was the most rugged and
retired； we told him that it was where we now are； and so in truth
it is； for if you push on half a league farther； perhaps you will
not be able to find your way out； and I am wondering how you have
managed to come here； for there is no road or path that leads to
this spot。 I say； then； that on hearing our answer the youth turned
about and made for the place we pointed out to him； leaving us all
charmed with his good looks； and wondering at his question and the
haste with which we saw him depart in the direction of the sierra； and
after that we saw him no more； until some days afterwards he crossed
the path of one of our shepherds； and without saying a word to him；
came up to him and gave him several cuffs and kicks； and then turned
to the ass with our provisions and took all the bread and cheese it
carried； and having done this made off back again into the sierra with
extraordinary swiftness。 When some of us goatherds learned this we
went in search of him for about two days through the most remote
portion of this sierra； at the end of which we found him lodged in the
hollow of a large thick cork tree。 He came out to meet us with great
gentleness； with his dress now torn and his face so disfigured and
burned by the sun； that we hardly recognised him but that his clothes；
though torn； convinced us； from the recollection we had of them；
that he was the person we were looking for。 He saluted us courteously；
and in a few well…spoken words he told us not to wonder at seeing
him going about in this guise； as it was binding upon him in order
that he might work out a penance which for his many sins had been
imposed upon him。 We asked him to tell us who he was； but we were
never able to find out from him： we begged of him too； when he was
in want of food； which he could not do without； to tell us where we
should find him； as we would bring it to him with all good…will and
readiness； or if this were not to his taste； at least to come and
ask it of us and not take it by force from the shepherds。 He thanked
us for the offer； begged pardon for the late assault； and promised for
the future to ask it in God's name without offering violence to
anybody。 As for fixed abode； he said he had no other than that which
chance offered wherever night might overtake him； and his words
ended in an outburst of weeping so bitter that we who listened to
him must have been very stones had we not joined him in it；
comparing what we saw of him the first time with what we saw now； for；
as I said； he was a graceful and gracious youth； and in his
courteous and polished language showed himself to be of good birth and
courtly breeding； and rustics as we were that listened to him； even to
our rusticity his gentle bearing sufficed to make it plain。
〃But in the midst of his conversation he stopped and became
silent； keeping his eyes fixed upon the ground for some time； during
which we stood still waiting anxiously to see what would come of
this abstraction； and with no little pity； for from his behaviour； now
staring at the ground with fixed gaze and eyes wide open without
moving an eyelid； again closing them； compressing his lips and raising
his eyebrows； we could perceive plainly that a fit of madness of
some kind had come upon him； and before long he showed that what we
imagined was the truth； for he arose in a fury from the ground where
he had thrown himself； and attacked the first he found near him with
such rage and fierceness that if we had not dragged him off him； he
would have beaten or bitten him to death； all the while exclaiming；
'Oh faithless Fernando； here； here shalt thou pay the penalty of the
wrong thou hast done me； these hands shall tear out that heart of
thine； abode and dwelling of all iniquity； but of deceit and fraud
above all； and to these he added other words all in effect
upbraiding this Fernando and charging him with treachery and
faithlessness。
〃We forced him to release his hold with no little difficulty； and
without another word he left us； and rushing off plunged in among
these brakes and brambles； so as to make it impossible for us to
follow him； from this we suppose that madness comes upon him from time
to time； and that some one called Fernando must have done him a
wrong of a grievous nature such as the condition to which it had
brought him seemed to show。 All this has been since then confirmed
on those occasions； and they have been many； on which he has crossed
our path； at one time to beg the shepherds to give him some of the
food they carry； at another to take it from them by force； for when
there is a fit of madness upon him； even though the shepherds offer it
freely； he will not accept it but snatches it from them by dint of
blows； but when he is in his senses he begs it for the love of God；
courteously and civilly； and receives it with many thanks and not a
few tears。 And to tell you the truth； sirs；〃 continued the goatherd；
〃it was yesterday that we resolved； I and four of the lads； two of
them our servants； and the other two friends of mine； to go in
search of him until we find him； and when we do to take him； whether
by force or of his own consent； to the town of Almodovar； which is
eight leagues from this； and there strive to cure him （if indeed his
malady admits of a cure）； or learn when he is in his senses who he is；
and if he has relatives to whom we may give notice of his
misfortune。 This； sirs； is all I can say in answer to what you have
asked me； and be sure that the owner of the articles you found is he
whom you saw pass by with such nimbleness and so naked。〃
For Don Quixote had already described how he had seen the man go
bounding along the mountain side； and he was now filled with amazement
at what he heard from the goatherd； and more eager than ever to
discover who the unhappy madman was； and in his heart he resolved；
as he had done before； to search for him all over the mountain； not
leaving a corner or cave unexamined until he had found him。 But chance
arranged matters better than he expected or hoped； for at that very
moment； in a gorge on the mountain that opened where they stood； the
youth he wished to find made his appearance； coming along talking to
himself in a way that would have been unintelligible near at hand；
much more at a distance。 His garb was what has been described； save
that as he drew near； Don Quixote perceived that a tattered doublet
which he wore was amber…tanned； from which he concluded that one who
wore such garments could not be of very low rank。
Approaching them； the youth greeted them in a harsh and hoarse voice
but with great courtesy。 Don Quixote returned his salutation with
equal politeness； and dismounting from Rocinante advanced with
well…bred bearing and grace to embrace him； and held him for some time
close in his arms as if he had known him for a long time。 The other；
whom we may call the Ragged One of the Sorry Countenance； as Don
Quixote was of the Rueful； after submitting to the embrace pushed
him back a little and； placing his hands on Don Quixote's shoulders；
stood gazing at him as if seeking to see whether he knew him； not less
amazed； perhaps； at the sight of the face； figure； and armour of Don
Quixote than Don Quixote was at the sight of him。 To be brief； the
first to speak after embracing was the Ragged One； and he said what
will be told farther on。
CHAPTER XXIV
IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE SIERRA MORENA
THE history relates that it was with the greatest attention Don
Quixote listened to the ragged knight of the Sierra； who began by
saying：
〃Of a surety； senor； whoever you are； for I know you not； I thank
you for the proofs of kindness and courtesy you have shown me； and
would I were in a condition to requite with something more than
good…will that which you have displayed towards me in the cordial
reception you have given me； but my fate does not afford me any
other means of returning kindnesses done me save the hearty desire
to repay them。〃
〃Mine；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃is to be of service to you； so much so
that I had resolved not to quit these mountains until I had found you；
and learned of you whether there is any kind of relief to be found for
that sorrow under which from the strangeness of your life you seem
to labour； and to search for you with all possible diligence； if
search had been necessary。 And if your misfortune should prove to be
one of those that refuse admission to any sort of co