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is the mark of a strong man。〃
〃That is enough；〃 said Dorothea； 〃for with friends we must not
look too closely into trifles； and whether it be on the shoulder or on
the backbone matters little； it is enough if there is a mole； be it
where it may； for it is all the same flesh； no doubt my good father
hit the truth in every particular； and I have made a lucky hit in
commending myself to Don Quixote； for he is the one my father spoke
of； as the features of his countenance correspond with those
assigned to this knight by that wide fame he has acquired not only
in Spain but in all La Mancha； for I had scarcely landed at Osuna when
I heard such accounts of his achievements； that at once my heart
told me he was the very one I had come in search of。〃
〃But how did you land at Osuna； senora；〃 asked Don Quixote； 〃when it
is not a seaport？〃
But before Dorothea could reply the curate anticipated her；
saying； 〃The princess meant to say that after she had landed at Malaga
the first place where she heard of your worship was Osuna。〃
〃That is what I meant to say；〃 said Dorothea。
〃And that would be only natural；〃 said the curate。 〃Will your
majesty please proceed？〃
〃There is no more to add；〃 said Dorothea； 〃save that in finding
Don Quixote I have had such good fortune； that I already reckon and
regard myself queen and mistress of my entire dominions； since of
his courtesy and magnanimity he has granted me the boon of
accompanying me whithersoever I may conduct him； which will be only to
bring him face to face with Pandafilando of the Scowl； that he may
slay him and restore to me what has been unjustly usurped by him：
for all this must come to pass satisfactorily since my good father
Tinacrio the Sapient foretold it； who likewise left it declared in
writing in Chaldee or Greek characters （for I cannot read them）；
that if this predicted knight； after having cut the giant's throat；
should be disposed to marry me I was to offer myself at once without
demur as his lawful wife； and yield him possession of my kingdom
together with my person。〃
〃What thinkest thou now； friend Sancho？〃 said Don Quixote at this。
〃Hearest thou that？ Did I not tell thee so？ See how we have already
got a kingdom to govern and a queen to marry！〃
〃On my oath it is so；〃 said Sancho； 〃and foul fortune to him who
won't marry after slitting Senor Pandahilado's windpipe！ And then； how
illfavoured the queen is！ I wish the fleas in my bed were that sort！〃
And so saying he cut a couple of capers in the air with every sign
of extreme satisfaction； and then ran to seize the bridle of
Dorothea's mule； and checking it fell on his knees before her； begging
her to give him her hand to kiss in token of his acknowledgment of her
as his queen and mistress。 Which of the bystanders could have helped
laughing to see the madness of the master and the simplicity of the
servant？ Dorothea therefore gave her hand； and promised to make him
a great lord in her kingdom； when Heaven should be so good as to
permit her to recover and enjoy it； for which Sancho returned thanks
in words that set them all laughing again。
〃This； sirs；〃 continued Dorothea； 〃is my story； it only remains to
tell you that of all the attendants I took with me from my kingdom I
have none left except this well…bearded squire； for all were drowned
in a great tempest we encountered when in sight of port； and he and
I came to land on a couple of planks as if by a miracle； and indeed
the whole course of my life is a miracle and a mystery as you may have
observed； and if I have been over minute in any respect or not as
precise as I ought； let it be accounted for by what the licentiate
said at the beginning of my tale； that constant and excessive troubles
deprive the sufferers of their memory。〃
〃They shall not deprive me of mine； exalted and worthy princess；〃
said Don Quixote； 〃however great and unexampled those which I shall
endure in your service may be； and here I confirm anew the boon I have
promised you； and I swear to go with you to the end of the world until
I find myself in the presence of your fierce enemy； whose haughty head
I trust by the aid of my arm to cut off with the edge of this… I
will not say good sword； thanks to Gines de Pasamonte who carried away
mine〃… （this he said between his teeth； and then continued）； 〃and when
it has been cut off and you have been put in peaceful possession of
your realm it shall be left to your own decision to dispose of your
person as may be most pleasing to you； for so long as my memory is
occupied； my will enslaved； and my understanding enthralled by her…
I say no more… it is impossible for me for a moment to contemplate
marriage； even with a Phoenix。〃
The last words of his master about not wanting to marry were so
disagreeable to Sancho that raising his voice he exclaimed with
great irritation：
〃By my oath； Senor Don Quixote； you are not in your right senses；
for how can your worship possibly object to marrying such an exalted
princess as this？ Do you think Fortune will offer you behind every
stone such a piece of luck as is offered you now？ Is my lady
Dulcinea fairer； perchance？ Not she； nor half as fair； and I will even
go so far as to say she does not come up to the shoe of this one here。
A poor chance I have of getting that county I am waiting for if your
worship goes looking for dainties in the bottom of the sea。 In the
devil's name； marry； marry； and take this kingdom that comes to hand
without any trouble； and when you are king make me a marquis or
governor of a province； and for the rest let the devil take it all。〃
Don Quixote； when he heard such blasphemies uttered against his lady
Dulcinea； could not endure it； and lifting his pike； without saying
anything to Sancho or uttering a word； he gave him two such thwacks
that he brought him to the ground； and had it not been that Dorothea
cried out to him to spare him he would have no doubt taken his life on
the spot。
〃Do you think；〃 he said to him after a pause； 〃you scurvy clown；
that you are to be always interfering with me； and that you are to
be always offending and I always pardoning？ Don't fancy it； impious
scoundrel； for that beyond a doubt thou art； since thou hast set thy
tongue going against the peerless Dulcinea。 Know you not； lout；
vagabond； beggar； that were it not for the might that she infuses into
my arm I should not have strength enough to kill a flea？ Say；
scoffer with a viper's tongue； what think you has won this kingdom and
cut off this giant's head and made you a marquis （for all this I count
as already accomplished and decided）； but the might of Dulcinea；
employing my arm as the instrument of her achievements？ She fights
in me and conquers in me； and I live and breathe in her； and owe my
life and being to her。 O whoreson scoundrel； how ungrateful you are；
you see yourself raised from the dust of the earth to be a titled
lord； and the return you make for so great a benefit is to speak
evil of her who has conferred it upon you！〃
Sancho was not so stunned but that he heard all his master said； and
rising with some degree of nimbleness he ran to place himself behind
Dorothea's palfrey； and from that position he said to his master：
〃Tell me； senor； if your worship is resolved not to marry this great
princess； it is plain the kingdom will not be yours； and not being so；
how can you bestow favours upon me？ That is what I complain of。 Let
your worship at any rate marry this queen； now that we have got her
here as if showered down from heaven； and afterwards you may go back
to my lady Dulcinea； for there must have been kings in the world who
kept mistresses。 As to beauty； I have nothing to do with it； and if
the truth is to be told； I like them both； though I have never seen
the lady Dulcinea。〃
〃How！ never seen her； blasphemous traitor！〃 exclaimed Don Quixote；
〃hast thou not just now brought me a message from her？〃
〃I mean；〃 said Sancho； 〃that I did not see her so much at my leisure
that I could take particular notice of her beauty； or of her charms
piecemeal； but taken in the lump I like her。〃
〃Now I forgive thee；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and do thou forgive me
the injury I have done thee； for our first impulses are not in our
control。〃
〃That I see；〃 replied Sancho； 〃and with me the wish to speak is
always the first impulse； and I cannot help saying； once at any
rate； what I have on the tip of my tongue。〃
〃For all that； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃take heed of what thou
sayest； for the pitcher goes so often to the well… I need say no
more to thee。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said Sancho； 〃God is in heaven； and sees all tricks；
and will judge who does most harm； I in not speaking right； or your
worship in not doing it。〃
〃That is enough；〃 said Dorothea； 〃run； Sancho； and kiss your
lord's hand and beg his pardon； and henceforward be more circumspect
with your praise and abuse； and say nothing in disparagement of that
lady Toboso； of whom I know nothing save that I am her servant； and
put your trust in God； for you will not fail to obtain some dignity so
as to live like a prince。〃
Sancho advanced hanging his head and begged his master's hand； which
Don Quixote with d