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and plucked up trees； troubled the waters of the clear springs； slew
destroyed flocks； burned down huts； levelled houses； dragged mares
after him； and perpetrated a hundred thousand other outrages worthy of
everlasting renown and record？ And though I have no intention of
imitating Roland； or Orlando； or Rotolando （for he went by all these
names）； step by step in all the mad things he did； said； and
thought； I will make a rough copy to the best of my power of all
that seems to me most essential； but perhaps I shall content myself
with the simple imitation of Amadis； who without giving way to any
mischievous madness but merely to tears and sorrow； gained as much
fame as the most famous。〃
〃It seems to me；〃 said Sancho； 〃that the knights who behaved in this
way had provocation and cause for those follies and penances； but what
cause has your worship for going mad？ What lady has rejected you； or
what evidence have you found to prove that the lady Dulcinea del
Toboso has been trifling with Moor or Christian？〃
〃There is the point；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and that is the beauty
of this business of mine； no thanks to a knight…errant for going mad
when he has cause； the thing is to turn crazy without any provocation；
and let my lady know； if I do this in the dry； what I would do in
the moist； moreover I have abundant cause in the long separation I
have endured from my lady till death； Dulcinea del Toboso； for as thou
didst hear that shepherd Ambrosio say the other day； in absence all
ills are felt and feared； and so； friend Sancho； waste no time in
advising me against so rare； so happy； and so unheard…of an imitation；
mad I am； and mad I must be until thou returnest with the answer to
a letter that I mean to send by thee to my lady Dulcinea； and if it be
such as my constancy deserves； my insanity and penance will come to an
end； and if it be to the opposite effect； I shall become mad in
earnest； and； being so； I shall suffer no more； thus in whatever way
she may answer I shall escape from the struggle and affliction in
which thou wilt leave me； enjoying in my senses the boon thou
bearest me； or as a madman not feeling the evil thou bringest me。
But tell me； Sancho； hast thou got Mambrino's helmet safe？ for I saw
thee take it up from the ground when that ungrateful wretch tried to
break it in pieces but could not； by which the fineness of its
temper may be seen。〃
To which Sancho made answer； 〃By the living God； Sir Knight of the
Rueful Countenance； I cannot endure or bear with patience some of
the things that your worship says； and from them I begin to suspect
that all you tell me about chivalry； and winning kingdoms and empires；
and giving islands； and bestowing other rewards and dignities after
the custom of knights…errant； must be all made up of wind and lies；
and all pigments or figments； or whatever we may call them； for what
would anyone think that heard your worship calling a barber's basin
Mambrino's helmet without ever seeing the mistake all this time； but
that one who says and maintains such things must have his brains
addled？ I have the basin in my sack all dinted； and I am taking it
home to have it mended； to trim my beard in it； if； by God's grace；
I am allowed to see my wife and children some day or other。〃
〃Look here； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃by him thou didst swear by
just now I swear thou hast the most limited understanding that any
squire in the world has or ever had。 Is it possible that all this time
thou hast been going about with me thou hast never found out that
all things belonging to knights…errant seem to be illusions and
nonsense and ravings； and to go always by contraries？ And not
because it really is so； but because there is always a swarm of
enchanters in attendance upon us that change and alter everything with
us； and turn things as they please； and according as they are disposed
to aid or destroy us； thus what seems to thee a barber's basin seems
to me Mambrino's helmet； and to another it will seem something else；
and rare foresight it was in the sage who is on my side to make what
is really and truly Mambrine's helmet seem a basin to everybody；
for； being held in such estimation as it is； all the world would
pursue me to rob me of it； but when they see it is only a barber's
basin they do not take the trouble to obtain it； as was plainly
shown by him who tried to break it； and left it on the ground
without taking it； for； by my faith； had he known it he would never
have left it behind。 Keep it safe； my friend； for just now I have no
need of it； indeed； I shall have to take off all this armour and
remain as naked as I was born； if I have a mind to follow Roland
rather than Amadis in my penance。〃
Thus talking they reached the foot of a high mountain which stood
like an isolated peak among the others that surrounded it。 Past its
base there flowed a gentle brook； all around it spread a meadow so
green and luxuriant that it was a delight to the eyes to look upon it；
and forest trees in abundance； and shrubs and flowers； added to the
charms of the spot。 Upon this place the Knight of the Rueful
Countenance fixed his choice for the performance of his penance； and
as he beheld it exclaimed in a loud voice as though he were out of his
senses：
〃This is the place； oh； ye heavens； that I select and choose for
bewailing the misfortune in which ye yourselves have plunged me：
this is the spot where the overflowings of mine eyes shall swell the
waters of yon little brook； and my deep and endless sighs shall stir
unceasingly the leaves of these mountain trees； in testimony and token
of the pain my persecuted heart is suffering。 Oh； ye rural deities；
whoever ye be that haunt this lone spot； give ear to the complaint
of a wretched lover whom long absence and brooding jealousy have
driven to bewail his fate among these wilds and complain of the hard
heart of that fair and ungrateful one； the end and limit of all
human beauty！ Oh； ye wood nymphs and dryads； that dwell in the
thickets of the forest； so may the nimble wanton satyrs by whom ye are
vainly wooed never disturb your sweet repose； help me to lament my
hard fate or at least weary not at listening to it！ Oh； Dulcinea del
Toboso； day of my night； glory of my pain； guide of my path； star of
my fortune； so may Heaven grant thee in full all thou seekest of it；
bethink thee of the place and condition to which absence from thee has
brought me； and make that return in kindness that is due to my
fidelity！ Oh； lonely trees； that from this day forward shall bear me
company in my solitude； give me some sign by the gentle movement of
your boughs that my presence is not distasteful to you！ Oh； thou； my
squire； pleasant companion in my prosperous and adverse fortunes；
fix well in thy memory what thou shalt see me do here； so that thou
mayest relate and report it to the sole cause of all；〃 and so saying
he dismounted from Rocinante； and in an instant relieved him of saddle
and bridle； and giving him a slap on the croup； said； 〃He gives thee
freedom who is bereft of it himself； oh steed as excellent in deed
as thou art unfortunate in thy lot； begone where thou wilt； for thou
bearest written on thy forehead that neither Astolfo's hippogriff； nor
the famed Frontino that cost Bradamante so dear； could equal thee in
speed。〃
Seeing this Sancho said； 〃Good luck to him who has saved us the
trouble of stripping the pack…saddle off Dapple！ By my faith he
would not have gone without a slap on the croup and something said
in his praise； though if he were here I would not let anyone strip
him； for there would be no occasion； as he had nothing of the lover or
victim of despair about him； inasmuch as his master； which I was while
it was God's pleasure； was nothing of the sort； and indeed； Sir Knight
of the Rueful Countenance； if my departure and your worship's
madness are to come off in earnest； it will be as well to saddle
Rocinante again in order that he may supply the want of Dapple；
because it will save me time in going and returning： for if I go on
foot I don't know when I shall get there or when I shall get back；
as I am； in truth； a bad walker。〃
〃I declare； Sancho；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃it shall be as thou
wilt； for thy plan does not seem to me a bad one； and three days hence
thou wilt depart； for I wish thee to observe in the meantime what I do
and say for her sake； that thou mayest be able to tell it。〃
〃But what more have I to see besides what I have seen？〃 said Sancho。
〃Much thou knowest about it！〃 said Don Quixote。 〃I have now got to
tear up my garments； to scatter about my armour； knock my head against
these rocks； and more of the same sort of thing； which thou must
witness。〃
〃For the love of God；〃 said Sancho； 〃be careful； your worship； how
you give yourself those knocks on the head； for you may come across
such a rock； and in such a way； that the very first may put an end
to the whole contrivance of this penance； and I should think； if
indeed knocks on the head seem necessary to you； and this business
cannot be done without them； you might be content …as the whole
thing is feigned； and counterfeit； and in joke… you might be
content； I