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the devil himself that put into his head tales to match his own
adventures； for now； forgetting Baldwin； he bethought himself of the
Moor Abindarraez； when the Alcaide of Antequera； Rodrigo de Narvaez；
took him prisoner and carried him away to his castle； so that when the
peasant again asked him how he was and what ailed him； he gave him for
reply the same words and phrases that the captive Abindarraez gave
to Rodrigo de Narvaez； just as he had read the story in the 〃Diana〃 of
Jorge de Montemayor where it is written； applying it to his own case
so aptly that the peasant went along cursing his fate that he had to
listen to such a lot of nonsense； from which； however； he came to
the conclusion that his neighbour was mad； and so made all haste to
reach the village to escape the wearisomeness of this harangue of
Don Quixote's； who； at the end of it； said； 〃Senor Don Rodrigo de
Narvaez； your worship must know that this fair Xarifa I have mentioned
is now the lovely Dulcinea del Toboso； for whom I have done； am doing；
and will do the most famous deeds of chivalry that in this world
have been seen； are to be seen； or ever shall be seen。〃
To this the peasant answered； 〃Senor… sinner that I am！… cannot your
worship see that I am not Don Rodrigo de Narvaez nor the Marquis of
Mantua； but Pedro Alonso your neighbour； and that your worship is
neither Baldwin nor Abindarraez； but the worthy gentleman Senor
Quixada？〃
〃I know who I am；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and I know that I may be
not only those I have named； but all the Twelve Peers of France and
even all the Nine Worthies； since my achievements surpass all that
they have done all together and each of them on his own account。〃
With this talk and more of the same kind they reached the village
just as night was beginning to fall； but the peasant waited until it
was a little later that the belaboured gentleman might not be seen
riding in such a miserable trim。 When it was what seemed to him the
proper time he entered the village and went to Don Quixote's house；
which he found all in confusion； and there were the curate and the
village barber； who were great friends of Don Quixote； and his
housekeeper was saying to them in a loud voice； 〃What does your
worship think can have befallen my master； Senor Licentiate Pero
Perez？〃 for so the curate was called； 〃it is three days now since
anything has been seen of him； or the hack； or the buckler； lance；
or armour。 Miserable me！ I am certain of it； and it is as true as that
I was born to die； that these accursed books of chivalry he has； and
has got into the way of reading so constantly； have upset his
reason； for now I remember having often heard him saying to himself
that he would turn knight…errant and go all over the world in quest of
adventures。 To the devil and Barabbas with such books； that have
brought to ruin in this way the finest understanding there was in
all La Mancha！〃
The niece said the same； and； more： 〃You must know； Master
Nicholas〃… for that was the name of the barber… 〃it was often my
uncle's way to stay two days and nights together poring over these
unholy books of misventures； after which he would fling the book
away and snatch up his sword and fall to slashing the walls； and
when he was tired out he would say he had killed four giants like four
towers； and the sweat that flowed from him when he was weary he said
was the blood of the wounds he had received in battle； and then he
would drink a great jug of cold water and become calm and quiet；
saying that this water was a most precious potion which the sage
Esquife； a great magician and friend of his； had brought him。 But I
take all the blame upon myself for never having told your worships
of my uncle's vagaries； that you might put a stop to them before
things had come to this pass； and burn all these accursed books… for
he has a great number… that richly deserve to be burned like
heretics。〃
〃So say I too；〃 said the curate； 〃and by my faith to…morrow shall
not pass without public judgment upon them； and may they be
condemned to the flames lest they lead those that read to behave as my
good friend seems to have behaved。〃
All this the peasant heard； and from it he understood at last what
was the matter with his neighbour； so he began calling aloud； 〃Open；
your worships； to Senor Baldwin and to Senor the Marquis of Mantua；
who comes badly wounded； and to Senor Abindarraez； the Moor； whom
the valiant Rodrigo de Narvaez； the Alcaide of Antequera； brings
captive。〃
At these words they all hurried out； and when they recognised
their friend； master； and uncle； who had not yet dismounted from the
ass because he could not； they ran to embrace him。
〃Hold！〃 said he； 〃for I am badly wounded through my horse's fault；
carry me to bed； and if possible send for the wise Urganda to cure and
see to my wounds。〃
〃See there！ plague on it！〃 cried the housekeeper at this： 〃did not
my heart tell the truth as to which foot my master went lame of？ To
bed with your worship at once； and we will contrive to cure you here
without fetching that Hurgada。 A curse I say once more； and a
hundred times more； on those books of chivalry that have brought
your worship to such a pass。〃
They carried him to bed at once； and after searching for his
wounds could find none； but he said they were all bruises from
having had a severe fall with his horse Rocinante when in combat
with ten giants； the biggest and the boldest to be found on earth。
〃So； so！〃 said the curate； 〃are there giants in the dance？ By the
sign of the Cross I will burn them to…morrow before the day over。〃
They put a host of questions to Don Quixote； but his only answer
to all was… give him something to eat； and leave him to sleep； for
that was what he needed most。 They did so； and the curate questioned
the peasant at great length as to how he had found Don Quixote。 He
told him； and the nonsense he had talked when found and on the way
home； all which made the licentiate the more eager to do what he did
the next day； which was to summon his friend the barber； Master
Nicholas； and go with him to Don Quixote's house。
CHAPTER VI
OF THE DIVERTING AND IMPORTANT SCRUTINY WHICH THE CURATE AND THE
BARBER MADE IN THE LIBRARY OF OUR INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN
HE WAS still sleeping； so the curate asked the niece for the keys of
the room where the books； the authors of all the mischief； were； and
right willingly she gave them。 They all went in； the housekeeper
with them； and found more than a hundred volumes of big books very
well bound； and some other small ones。 The moment the housekeeper
saw them she turned about and ran out of the room； and came back
immediately with a saucer of holy water and a sprinkler； saying；
〃Here； your worship； senor licentiate； sprinkle this room； don't leave
any magician of the many there are in these books to bewitch us in
revenge for our design of banishing them from the world。〃
The simplicity of the housekeeper made the licentiate laugh； and
he directed the barber to give him the books one by one to see what
they were about； as there might be some to be found among them that
did not deserve the penalty of fire。
〃No；〃 said the niece； 〃there is no reason for showing mercy to any
of them； they have every one of them done mischief； better fling
them out of the window into the court and make a pile of them and
set fire to them； or else carry them into the yard； and there a
bonfire can be made without the smoke giving any annoyance。〃 The
housekeeper said the same； so eager were they both for the slaughter
of those innocents； but the curate would not agree to it without first
reading at any rate the titles。
The first that Master Nicholas put into his hand was 〃The four books
of Amadis of Gaul。〃 〃This seems a mysterious thing；〃 said the
curate； 〃for； as I have heard say； this was the first book of chivalry
printed in Spain； and from this all the others derive their birth
and origin； so it seems to me that we ought inexorably to condemn it
to the flames as the founder of so vile a sect。〃
〃Nay； sir；〃 said the barber； 〃I too； have heard say that this is the
best of all the books of this kind that have been written； and so；
as something singular in its line； it ought to be pardoned。〃
〃True；〃 said the curate； 〃and for that reason let its life be spared
for the present。 Let us see that other which is next to it。〃
〃It is；〃 said the barber； 〃the 'Sergas de Esplandian；' the lawful
son of Amadis of Gaul。〃
〃Then verily；〃 said the curate； 〃the merit of the father must not be
put down to the account of the son。 Take it； mistress housekeeper；
open the window and fling it into the yard and lay the foundation of
the pile for the bonfire we are to make。〃
The housekeeper obeyed with great satisfaction； and the worthy
〃Esplandian〃 went flying into the yard to await with all patience
the fire that was in store for him。
〃Proceed；〃 said the curate。
〃This that comes next；〃 said the barber； 〃is 'Amadis of Greece；'
and； indeed； I believe all those on this side are of the same Amadis
lineage。〃
〃Then to the yard with the whole of them；〃 said the curate； 〃for
to have the burning of Queen Pintiqui