Part 20 (1/2)
One must live long to see much.
He who lives long; must suffer much.
To deprive a knight-errant of his mistress is to rob him of the eyes with which he sees, the sun by which he is enlightened, and the support by which he is maintained. I have many times said, and now I repeat the observation, that a knight-errant without a mistress is like a tree without leaves, a building without cement, and a shadow without the substance by which it is produced.
Possessing beauty without blemish, dignity without pride, love with modesty, politeness springing from courtesy, and courtesy from good breeding, and, finally, of ill.u.s.trious descent: for the beauty that is of a n.o.ble race s.h.i.+nes with more splendor than that which is meanly born.
Virtue enn.o.bles blood, and a virtuous person of humble birth is more estimable than a vicious person of rank.
I must inform your graces that Sancho Panza is one of the most pleasant squires that ever served a knight-errant.
Sometimes his simplicity is so arch, that to consider whether he is more fool or wag yields abundance of pleasure.
He has roguery enough to pa.s.s for a knave, and absurdities sufficient to confirm him a fool. He doubts everything and believes everything; and often, when I think he is going to discharge nonsense, he will utter apothegms that will raise him to the skies. In a word, I would not exchange him for any other squire, even with a city to boot; and therefore I am in doubt whether or not it will be expedient to send him to that government which your grace has been so good as to bestow upon him, although I can perceive in him a certain apt.i.tude for such an office; so that, when his understanding is a very little polished, he will agree with any government, like the king with his customs; for we know by repeated experience that great talents and learning are not necessary in a governor, as there are a hundred at least who govern like gerfalcons, though they can hardly read their mother tongue. Provided their intention is righteous and their desire to do justice, they will never want counsellors to direct them in every transaction, like your military governors, who being illiterate themselves, never decide without the advice of an a.s.sessor. I shall advise him corruption to eschew, but never quit his due, and inculcate some other small matters that are in my head, which, in process of time, may redound to his own interest as well as to the advantage of the island under his command.
The customs of countries, or of great men's houses, are good as far as they are agreeable.
”Faith, madam,” quoth Sancho, ”that same scruple is an honest scruple, and need not speak in a whisper, but plain out, or as it lists; for I know it says true, and had I been wise, I should long since have left my master but such is my lot, or such my evil-errantry, I cannot help it,--follow him I must. We are both of the same town; I have eaten his bread; I love him, and he returns my love; he gave me his a.s.s-colts.
Above all, I am faithful, so that nothing in the world, can part us but the s.e.xton's spade and shovel; and if your highness does not choose to give me the government you promised, G.o.d made me without it, and perhaps it may be all the better for my conscience if I do not get it; for fool as I am, I understand the proverb, 'The pismire had wings to her sorrow;' and perhaps it may be easier for Sancho the squire to get to heaven than for Sancho the governor. They make as good bread here as in France, and by night all cats are gray. Unhappy is he who has not breakfasted at three, and no stomach is a span bigger than another, and may be filled as they say, with straw or with hay.
”Of the little birds in the air, G.o.d himself takes the care; and four yards of coa.r.s.e cloth of Cuenza are warmer than as many of fine Segovia serge; and in travelling from this world to the next, the road is no wider for the prince than the peasant. The Pope's body takes up no more room than that of the s.e.xton, though a loftier person, for in the grave we must pack close together whether we like it or not; so good-night to all.
”And let me tell you again that if your highness will not give me the island because I am a fool, I will be wise enough not to care a fig for it. I have heard say the devil lurks behind the cross; all is not gold that glitters. From the plough-tail Bamba was raised to the throne of Spain, and from his riches and revels was Roderigo cast down to be devoured by serpents, if ancient ballads tell the truth.”
None shall dare the loaf to steal From him that sifts and kneads the meal.
An old dog is not to be coaxed with a crust.
No man is ever a scholar at his birth, and bishops are made of men, not of stones.
There is a Judge in heaven who knows the heart.
A good name is better than tons of gold.
”And you, Signor Panza, be quiet and leave the care of making much of Dapple to me; for being a jewel of Sancho's, I will lay him upon the apple of my eye.”
”Let him lie in the stable, my good lady,” answered Sancho, ”for upon the apple of your grandeur's eye neither he nor I are worthy to lie one single moment,--'slife! they should stick me like a sheep sooner than I would consent to such a thing; for though my master says that, in respect to good manners, we should rather lose the game by a card too much than too little, yet, when the business in hand is about a.s.ses and eyes, we should step warily, with compa.s.s in hand.”
”Carry him, Sancho,” quoth the d.u.c.h.ess, ”to your government, and there you may regale him as you please, and set him free from further labor.”
”Think not, my lady d.u.c.h.ess,” quoth Sancho, ”that you have said much, for I have seen more a.s.ses than one go to governments, and therefore, if I should carry mine, it would be nothing new.”
SANCHO'S PLIGHT.
The Duke and d.u.c.h.ess were extremely diverted with the humors of their two guests; and resolving to improve their sport by practising some pleasantries that should have the appearance of a romantic adventure, they contrived to dress up a very choice entertainment from Don Quixote's account of the Cave of Montesinos, taking that subject because the d.u.c.h.ess had observed with astonishment that Sancho now believed his lady Dulcinea was really enchanted, although he himself had been her sole enchanter! Accordingly, after the servants had been well instructed as to their deportment towards Don Quixote, a boar-hunt was proposed, and it was determined to set out in five or six days with a princely train of huntsmen. The knight was presented with a hunting suit proper for the occasion, which, however, he declined, saying that he must soon return to the severe duties of his profession, when, having no sumpters nor wardrobes, such things would be superfluous. But Sancho readily accepted a suit of fine green cloth which was offered to him, intending to sell it the first opportunity.
The appointed day being come, Don Quixote armed himself, and Sancho in his new suit mounted Dapple (which he preferred to a horse that was offered him) and joined the troop of hunters. The d.u.c.h.ess issued forth magnificently attired, and Don Quixote, out of pure politeness, would hold the reins of the palfrey, though the Duke was unwilling to allow it. Having arrived at the proposed scene of their diversion, which was in a wood between two lofty mountains, they posted themselves in places where the toils were to be pitched; and all the party having taken their different stations, the sport began with prodigious noise and clamor, insomuch that between the shouts of the huntsmen, the cry of the hounds, and the sound of the horns, they could not hear each other.
The d.u.c.h.ess alighted, and with a boar-spear in her hand, took her stand in a place where she expected the boars would pa.s.s. The Duke and Don Quixote dismounted also, and placed themselves by her side; while Sancho took his station behind them all, with his Dapple, whom he would not quit, lest some mischance should befall him. Scarcely had they ranged themselves in order when a hideous boar of monstrous size rushed out of cover, pursued by the dogs and hunters, and made directly towards them, gnas.h.i.+ng his teeth and tossing foam with his mouth.