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held him； but presently recognised him as one of his father's
servants； at which he was so taken aback that for some time he could
not find or utter a word； while the servant went on to say； 〃There
is nothing for it now； Senor Don Luis； but to submit quietly and
return home； unless it is your wish that my lord； your father；
should take his departure for the other world； for nothing else can be
the consequence of the grief he is in at your absence。〃
〃But how did my father know that I had gone this road and in this
dress？〃 said Don Luis。
〃It was a student to whom you confided your intentions；〃 answered
the servant； 〃that disclosed them； touched with pity at the distress
he saw your father suffer on missing you； he therefore despatched four
of his servants in quest of you； and here we all are at your
service； better pleased than you can imagine that we shall return so
soon and be able to restore you to those eyes that so yearn for you。〃
〃That shall be as I please； or as heaven orders；〃 returned Don Luis。
〃What can you please or heaven order；〃 said the other； 〃except to
agree to go back？ Anything else is impossible。〃
All this conversation between the two was overheard by the
muleteer at whose side Don Luis lay； and rising； he went to report
what had taken place to Don Fernando； Cardenio； and the others； who
had by this time dressed themselves； and told them how the man had
addressed the youth as 〃Don；〃 and what words had passed； and how he
wanted him to return to his father； which the youth was unwilling to
do。 With this； and what they already knew of the rare voice that
heaven had bestowed upon him； they all felt very anxious to know
more particularly who he was； and even to help him if it was attempted
to employ force against him； so they hastened to where he was still
talking and arguing with his servant。 Dorothea at this instant came
out of her room； followed by Dona Clara all in a tremor； and calling
Cardenio aside； she told him in a few words the story of the
musician and Dona Clara； and he at the same time told her what had
happened； how his father's servants had come in search of him； but
in telling her so； he did not speak low enough but that Dona Clara
heard what he said； at which she was so much agitated that had not
Dorothea hastened to support her she would have fallen to the
ground。 Cardenio then bade Dorothea return to her room； as he would
endeavour to make the whole matter right； and they did as he
desired。 All the four who had come in quest of Don Luis had now come
into the inn and surrounded him； urging him to return and console
his father at once and without a moment's delay。 He replied that he
could not do so on any account until he had concluded some business in
which his life； honour； and heart were at stake。 The servants
pressed him； saying that most certainly they would not return
without him； and that they would take him away whether he liked it
or not。
〃You shall not do that；〃 replied Don Luis； 〃unless you take me dead；
though however you take me； it will be without life。〃
By this time most of those in the inn had been attracted by the
dispute； but particularly Cardenio； Don Fernando； his companions；
the Judge； the curate； the barber； and Don Quixote； for he now
considered there was no necessity for mounting guard over the castle
any longer。 Cardenio being already acquainted with the young man's
story； asked the men who wanted to take him away； what object they had
in seeking to carry off this youth against his will。
〃Our object；〃 said one of the four； 〃is to save the life of his
father； who is in danger of losing it through this gentleman's
disappearance。〃
Upon this Don Luis exclaimed； 〃There is no need to make my affairs
public here； I am free； and I will return if I please； and if not；
none of you shall compel me。〃
〃Reason will compel your worship；〃 said the man； 〃and if it has no
power over you； it has power over us； to make us do what we came
for； and what it is our duty to do。〃
〃Let us hear what the whole affair is about；〃 said the Judge at
this； but the man； who knew him as a neighbour of theirs； replied； 〃Do
you not know this gentleman； Senor Judge？ He is the son of your
neighbour； who has run away from his father's house in a dress so
unbecoming his rank； as your worship may perceive。〃
The judge on this looked at him more carefully and recognised him；
and embracing him said； 〃What folly is this； Senor Don Luis； or what
can have been the cause that could have induced you to come here in
this way； and in this dress； which so ill becomes your condition？〃
Tears came into the eyes of the young man； and he was unable to
utter a word in reply to the Judge； who told the four servants not
to be uneasy； for all would be satisfactorily settled； and then taking
Don Luis by the hand； he drew him aside and asked the reason of his
having come there。
But while he was questioning him they heard a loud outcry at the
gate of the inn； the cause of which was that two of the guests who had
passed the night there； seeing everybody busy about finding out what
it was the four men wanted； had conceived the idea of going off
without paying what they owed； but the landlord； who minded his own
affairs more than other people's； caught them going out of the gate
and demanded his reckoning； abusing them for their dishonesty with
such language that he drove them to reply with their fists； and so
they began to lay on him in such a style that the poor man was
forced to cry out； and call for help。 The landlady and her daughter
could see no one more free to give aid than Don Quixote； and to him
the daughter said； 〃Sir knight； by the virtue God has given you；
help my poor father； for two wicked men are beating him to a mummy。〃
To which Don Quixote very deliberately and phlegmatically replied；
〃Fair damsel； at the present moment your request is inopportune； for I
am debarred from involving myself in any adventure until I have
brought to a happy conclusion one to which my word has pledged me； but
that which I can do for you is what I will now mention： run and tell
your father to stand his ground as well as he can in this battle；
and on no account to allow himself to be vanquished； while I go and
request permission of the Princess Micomicona to enable me to
succour him in his distress； and if she grants it； rest assured I will
relieve him from it。〃
〃Sinner that I am；〃 exclaimed Maritornes； who stood by； 〃before
you have got your permission my master will be in the other world。〃
〃Give me leave； senora； to obtain the permission I speak of；〃
returned Don Quixote； 〃and if I get it； it will matter very little
if he is in the other world； for I will rescue him thence in spite
of all the same world can do； or at any rate I will give you such a
revenge over those who shall have sent him there that you will be more
than moderately satisfied；〃 and without saying anything more he went
and knelt before Dorothea； requesting her Highness in knightly and
errant phrase to be pleased to grant him permission to aid and succour
the castellan of that castle； who now stood in grievous jeopardy。
The princess granted it graciously； and he at once； bracing his
buckler on his arm and drawing his sword； hastened to the inn…gate；
where the two guests were still handling the landlord roughly； but
as soon as he reached the spot he stopped short and stood still；
though Maritornes and the landlady asked him why he hesitated to
help their master and husband。
〃I hesitate；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃because it is not lawful for me
to draw sword against persons of squirely condition； but call my
squire Sancho to me； for this defence and vengeance are his affair and
business。〃
Thus matters stood at the inn…gate； where there was a very lively
exchange of fisticuffs and punches； to the sore damage of the landlord
and to the wrath of Maritornes； the landlady； and her daughter； who
were furious when they saw the pusillanimity of Don Quixote； and the
hard treatment their master； husband and father was undergoing。 But
let us leave him there； for he will surely find some one to help
him； and if not； let him suffer and hold his tongue who attempts
more than his strength allows him to do； and let us go back fifty
paces to see what Don Luis said in reply to the Judge whom we left
questioning him privately as to his reasons for coming on foot and
so meanly dressed。
To which the youth； pressing his hand in a way that showed his heart
was troubled by some great sorrow； and shedding a flood of tears； made
answer：
〃Senor； I have no more to tell you than that from the moment when；
through heaven's will and our being near neighbours； I first saw
Dona Clara； your daughter and my lady； from that instant I made her
the mistress of my will； and if yours； my true lord and father； offers
no impediment； this very day she shall become my wife。 For her I
left my father's house； and for her I assumed this disguise； to follow
her whithersoever she may go； as the arrow seeks its mark or the
sailor the pole…star。 She knows nothing more of my passion than what
she may have learned from having sometimes seen from a distance that
my eyes