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landlady's daughter began to signal to him； saying； 〃Senor； come
over here； please。〃
At these signals and voice Don Quixote turned his head and saw by
the light of the moon； which then was in its full splendour； that some
one was calling to him from the hole in the wall； which seemed to
him to be a window； and what is more； with a gilt grating； as rich
castles； such as he believed the inn to be； ought to have； and it
immediately suggested itself to his imagination that； as on the former
occasion； the fair damsel； the daughter of the lady of the castle；
overcome by love for him； was once more endeavouring to win his
affections； and with this idea； not to show himself discourteous； or
ungrateful； he turned Rocinante's head and approached the hole； and as
he perceived the two wenches he said：
〃I pity you； beauteous lady； that you should have directed your
thoughts of love to a quarter from whence it is impossible that such a
return can be made to you as is due to your great merit and gentle
birth； for which you must not blame this unhappy knight…errant whom
love renders incapable of submission to any other than her whom； the
first moment his eyes beheld her； he made absolute mistress of his
soul。 Forgive me； noble lady； and retire to your apartment； and do
not； by any further declaration of your passion； compel me to show
myself more ungrateful； and if； of the love you bear me； you should
find that there is anything else in my power wherein I can gratify
you； provided it be not love itself； demand it of me； for I swear to
you by that sweet absent enemy of mine to grant it this instant；
though it be that you require of me a lock of Medusa's hair； which was
all snakes； or even the very beams of the sun shut up in a vial。〃
〃My mistress wants nothing of that sort； sir knight；〃 said
Maritornes at this。
〃What then； discreet dame； is it that your mistress wants？〃
replied Don Quixote。
〃Only one of your fair hands；〃 said Maritornes； 〃to enable her to
vent over it the great passion passion which has brought her to this
loophole； so much to the risk of her honour； for if the lord her
father had heard her； the least slice he would cut off her would be
her ear。〃
〃I should like to see that tried；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but he had
better beware of that； if he does not want to meet the most disastrous
end that ever father in the world met for having laid hands on the
tender limbs of a love…stricken daughter。〃
Maritornes felt sure that Don Quixote would present the hand she had
asked； and making up her mind what to do； she got down from the hole
and went into the stable； where she took the halter of Sancho
Panza's ass； and in all haste returned to the hole； just as Don
Quixote had planted himself standing on Rocinante's saddle in order to
reach the grated window where he supposed the lovelorn damsel to be；
and giving her his hand； he said； 〃Lady； take this hand； or rather
this scourge of the evil…doers of the earth； take； I say； this hand
which no other hand of woman has ever touched； not even hers who has
complete possession of my entire body。 I present it to you； not that
you may kiss it； but that you may observe the contexture of the
sinews； the close network of the muscles； the breadth and capacity
of the veins； whence you may infer what must be the strength of the
arm that has such a hand。〃
〃That we shall see presently；〃 said Maritornes； and making a running
knot on the halter； she passed it over his wrist and coming down
from the hole tied the other end very firmly to the bolt of the door
of the straw…loft。
Don Quixote； feeling the roughness of the rope on his wrist；
exclaimed； 〃Your grace seems to be grating rather than caressing my
hand； treat it not so harshly； for it is not to blame for the
offence my resolution has given you； nor is it just to wreak all
your vengeance on so small a part； remember that one who loves so well
should not revenge herself so cruelly。〃
But there was nobody now to listen to these words of Don
Quixote's； for as soon as Maritornes had tied him she and the other
made off； ready to die with laughing； leaving him fastened in such a
way that it was impossible for him to release himself。
He was； as has been said； standing on Rocinante； with his arm passed
through the hole and his wrist tied to the bolt of the door； and in
mighty fear and dread of being left hanging by the arm if Rocinante
were to stir one side or the other； so he did not dare to make the
least movement； although from the patience and imperturbable
disposition of Rocinante； he had good reason to expect that he would
stand without budging for a whole century。 Finding himself fast； then；
and that the ladies had retired； he began to fancy that all this was
done by enchantment； as on the former occasion when in that same
castle that enchanted Moor of a carrier had belaboured him； and he
cursed in his heart his own want of sense and judgment in venturing to
enter the castle again； after having come off so badly the first time；
it being a settled point with knights…errant that when they have tried
an adventure； and have not succeeded in it； it is a sign that it is
not reserved for them but for others； and that therefore they need not
try it again。 Nevertheless he pulled his arm to see if he could
release himself； but it had been made so fast that all his efforts
were in vain。 It is true he pulled it gently lest Rocinante should
move； but try as he might to seat himself in the saddle； he had
nothing for it but to stand upright or pull his hand off。 Then it
was he wished for the sword of Amadis； against which no enchantment
whatever had any power； then he cursed his ill fortune； then he
magnified the loss the world would sustain by his absence while he
remained there enchanted； for that he believed he was beyond all
doubt； then he once more took to thinking of his beloved Dulcinea
del Toboso； then he called to his worthy squire Sancho Panza； who；
buried in sleep and stretched upon the pack…saddle of his ass； was
oblivious； at that moment； of the mother that bore him； then he called
upon the sages Lirgandeo and Alquife to come to his aid； then he
invoked his good friend Urganda to succour him； and then； at last；
morning found him in such a state of desperation and perplexity that
he was bellowing like a bull； for he had no hope that day would
bring any relief to his suffering； which he believed would last for
ever； inasmuch as he was enchanted； and of this he was convinced by
seeing that Rocinante never stirred； much or little； and he felt
persuaded that he and his horse were to remain in this state；
without eating or drinking or sleeping； until the malign influence
of the stars was overpast； or until some other more sage enchanter
should disenchant him。
But he was very much deceived in this conclusion； for daylight had
hardly begun to appear when there came up to the inn four men on
horseback； well equipped and accoutred； with firelocks across their
saddle…bows。 They called out and knocked loudly at the gate of the
inn； which was still shut； on seeing which； Don Quixote； even there
where he was； did not forget to act as sentinel； an