Part 10 (2/2)
Upon the news of Don Quixote's arrival, Sancho Panza's wife repaired thither, and on meeting him, her first inquiry was whether the a.s.s had come home well.
Sancho told her that he was in a better condition than his master.
”The Lord be praised,” replied she, ”for so great a mercy to me! But tell me, husband, what good have you got by your squires.h.i.+p? Have you brought a petticoat home for me, and shoes for your children?”
”I have brought you nothing of that sort, dear wife,” quoth Sancho; ”but I have got other things of greater consequence.”
”I am very glad of that,” answered the wife, ”pray show me your things of greater consequence, friend; for I would fain see them, to gladden my heart, which has been so sad, all the long time you have been away.”
”You shall see them at home, wife,” quoth Sancho, ”and be satisfied at present; for if it please G.o.d that we make another sally in quest of adventures, you will soon see me an earl or governor of an island, and no common one either, but one of the best that is to be had.”
”Grant Heaven it may be so, husband,” quoth the wife, ”for we have need enough of it. But pray tell me what you mean by islands; for I do not understand you.”
”Honey is not for the mouth of an a.s.s,” answered Sancho: ”in good time, wife, you shall see, yea, and admire to hear yourself styled ladys.h.i.+p by all your va.s.sals.”
”What do you mean, Sancho, by ladys.h.i.+p, islands, and va.s.sals?” answered Teresa Panza; for that was Sancho's wife's name, though they were not of kin, but because it is the custom in La Mancha for the wife to take the husband's name.
”Be not in so much haste, Teresa, to know all this,” said Sancho; ”let it suffice that I tell you the truth, and sew up your mouth. But for the present know that there is nothing in the world so pleasant to an honest man, as to be squire to a knight-errant, and seeker of adventures. It is true indeed, most of them are not so much to a man's mind as he could wish; for ninety-nine of a hundred one meets with fall out cross and unlucky. This I know by experience; for I have sometimes come off tossed in a blanket, and sometimes well cudgelled. Yet, for all that, it is a fine thing to be in expectation of accidents, traversing mountains, searching woods, marching over rocks, visiting castles, lodging in inns, all at discretion, and the devil a farthing to pay.”
Fame has preserved in the memoirs of La Mancha, that Don Quixote, the third time he sallied from home, went to Saragossa, where he was present at a famous tournament in that city, and that there befell him things worthy of his valor and good understanding. Nor would the chronicler have learned any thing concerning his death had he not fortunately become acquainted with an aged physician, who had in his custody a leaden box, found, as he said, under the ruins of an ancient hermitage then rebuilding: in which box was found a ma.n.u.script of parchment written in Gothic characters, but in Castilian verse, containing many of his exploits, and giving an account of the beauty of Dulcinea del Toboso, the figure of Rozinante, the fidelity of Sancho Panza, and the burial of Don Quixote himself, with several epitaphs and eulogies on his life and manners. All that could be read, and perfectly made out, were those inserted here by the faithful author of this strange and never-before-seen history; which author desires no other reward from those who shall read it, in recompense of the vast pains it has cost him to inquire into and search all the archives of La Mancha to bring it to light, but that they would afford him the same credit that ingenious people give to books of knight-errantry, which are so well received in the world; and herewith he will reckon himself well paid, and will rest satisfied; and will moreover be encouraged to seek and find out others, if not as true, at least of as much invention and entertainment. The first words, written in the parchment which was found in the leaden box, were these:--
THE ACADEMICIANS OF ARGAMASILLA, A TOWN OF LA MANCHA, ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE VALOROUS DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA, HOC SCRIPSERUNT.
_Monicongo, Academician of Argamasilla, on the Sepulture of Don Quixote._
EPITAPH.
La Mancha's thunderbolt of war, The sharpest wit and loftiest muse, The arm which from Gaeta far To Catai did its force diffuse; He who, through love and valor's fire, Outstripped great Amadis's fame Bid warlike Galaor retire, And silenced Belianis' name: He who, with helmet, sword, and s.h.i.+eld, On Rozinante, steed well known, Adventures fought in many a field, Lies underneath this frozen stone.
_Paniaguado, Academician of Argamasilla, in praise of Dulcinea Del Toboso._
SONNET.
She whom you see the plump and l.u.s.ty dame, With high erected chest and vigorous mien, Was erst th' enamored knight Don Quixote's flame, The fair Dulcinea, of Toboso, queen.
For her, armed cap-a-pie with sword and s.h.i.+eld, He trod the sable mountain o'er and o'er; For her he traversed Montiel's well-known field, And in her service toils unnumbered bore.
Hard fate! that death should crop so fine a flower!
And love o'er such a knight exert his tyrant power!
_Caprichoso, a most ingenious Academician of Argamasilla, in praise of Don Quixote's Horse Rozinante._
SONNET.
On the aspiring adamantine trunk Of a huge tree, whose root, with slaughter drunk Sends forth a scent of war, La Mancha's knight, Frantic with valor, and returned from fight, His b.l.o.o.d.y standard trembling in the air, Hangs up his glittering armor beaming far, With that fine-tempered steel whose edge o'erthrows, Hacks, hews, confounds, and routs opposing foes.
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