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〃Do as I bid thee；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃it cannot be that
everything in this castle goes by enchantment。〃
Sancho hastened to where the basin was； and brought it back with
him； and when Don Quixote saw it； he took hold of it and said：
〃Your worships may see with what a face this squire can assert
that this is a basin and not the helmet I told you of； and I swear
by the order of chivalry I profess； that this helmet is the
identical one I took from him； without anything added to or taken from
it。〃
〃There is no doubt of that；〃 said Sancho； 〃for from the time my
master won it until now he has only fought one battle in it； when he
let loose those unlucky men in chains； and if had not been for this
basin…helmet he would not have come off over well that time； for there
was plenty of stone…throwing in that affair。〃
CHAPTER XLV
IN WHICH THE DOUBTFUL QUESTION OF MAMBRINO'S HELMET AND THE
PACK…SADDLE IS FINALLY SETTLED； WITH OTHER ADVENTURES THAT OCCURRED IN
TRUTH AND EARNEST
WHAT do you think now； gentlemen；〃 said the barber； 〃of what these
gentles say； when they want to make out that this is a helmet？〃
〃And whoever says the contrary；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I will let him
know he lies if he is a knight； and if he is a squire that he lies
again a thousand times。〃
Our own barber； who was present at all this； and understood Don
Quixote's humour so thoroughly； took it into his head to back up his
delusion and carry on the joke for the general amusement； so
addressing the other barber he said：
〃Senor barber； or whatever you are； you must know that I belong to
your profession too； and have had a licence to practise for more
than twenty years； and I know the implements of the barber craft；
every one of them； perfectly well； and I was likewise a soldier for
some time in the days of my youth； and I know also what a helmet is；
and a morion； and a headpiece with a visor； and other things
pertaining to soldiering； I meant to say to soldiers' arms； and I say…
saving better opinions and always with submission to sounder judgments
…that this piece we have now before us； which this worthy gentleman
has in his hands； not only is no barber's basin； but is as far from
being one as white is from black； and truth from falsehood； I say；
moreover； that this； although it is a helmet； is not a complete
helmet。〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for half of it is wanting；
that is to say the beaver。〃
〃It is quite true；〃 said the curate； who saw the object of his
friend the barber； and Cardenio； Don Fernando and his companions
agreed with him； and even the Judge； if his thoughts had not been so
full of Don Luis's affair； would have helped to carry on the joke； but
he was so taken up with the serious matters he had on his mind that he
paid little or no attention to these facetious proceedings。
〃God bless me！〃 exclaimed their butt the barber at this； 〃is it
possible that such an honourable company can say that this is not a
basin but a helmet？ Why； this is a thing that would astonish a whole
university； however wise it might be！ That will do； if this basin is a
helmet； why； then the pack…saddle must be a horse's caparison； as this
gentleman has said。〃
〃To me it looks like a pack…saddle；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but I have
already said that with that question I do not concern myself。〃
〃As to whether it be pack…saddle or caparison；〃 said the curate； 〃it
is only for Senor Don Quixote to say； for in these matters of chivalry
all these gentlemen and I bow to his authority。〃
〃By God； gentlemen；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃so many strange things
have happened to me in this castle on the two occasions on which I
have sojourned in it； that I will not venture to assert anything
positively in reply to any question touching anything it contains； for
it is my belief that everything that goes on within it goes by
enchantment。 The first time； an enchanted Moor that there is in it
gave me sore trouble； nor did Sancho fare well among certain followers
of his； and last night I was kept hanging by this arm for nearly two
hours； without knowing how or why I came by such a mishap。 So that
now； for me to come forward to give an opinion in such a puzzling
matter； would be to risk a rash decision。 As regards the assertion
that this is a basin and not a helmet I have already given an
answer； but as to the question whether this is a pack…saddle or a
caparison I will not venture to give a positive opinion； but will
leave it to your worships' better judgment。 Perhaps as you are not
dubbed knights like myself； the enchantments of this place have
nothing to do with you； and your faculties are unfettered； and you can
see things in this castle as they really and truly are； and not as
they appear to me。〃
〃There can be no question；〃 said Don Fernando on this； 〃but that
Senor Don Quixote has spoken very wisely； and that with us rests the
decision of this matter； and that we may have surer ground to go on； I
will take the votes of the gentlemen in secret； and declare the result
clearly and fully。〃
To those who were in the secret of Don Quixote's humour all this
afforded great amusement； but to those who knew nothing about it； it
seemed the greatest nonsense in the world； in particular to the four
servants of Don Luis； as well as to Don Luis himself； and to three
other travellers who had by chance come to the inn； and had the
appearance of officers of the Holy Brotherhood； as indeed they were；
but the one who above all was at his wits' end； was the barber
basin； there before his very eyes； had been turned into Mambrino's
helmet； and whose pack…saddle he had no doubt whatever was about to
become a rich caparison for a horse。 All laughed to see Don Fernando
going from one to another collecting the votes； and whispering to them
to give him their private opinion whether the treasure over which
there had been so much fighting was a pack…saddle or a caparison；
but after he had taken the votes of those who knew Don Quixote； he
said aloud； 〃The fact is； my good fellow； that I am tired collecting
such a number of opinions； for I find that there is not one of whom
I ask what I desire to know； who does not tell me that it is absurd to
say that this is the pack…saddle of an ass； and not the caparison of a
horse； nay； of a thoroughbred horse； so you must submit； for； in spite
of you and your ass； this is a caparison and no pack…saddle； and you
have stated and proved your case very badly。〃
〃May I never share heaven；〃 said the poor barber； 〃if your
worships are not all mistaken； and may my soul appear before God as
that appears to me a pack…saddle and not a caparison； but； 'laws go；'…
I say no more； and indeed I am not drunk； for I am fasting； except
it be from sin。〃
The simple talk of the barber did not afford less amusement than the
absurdities of Don Quixote； who now observed：
〃There is no more to be done now than for each to take what
belongs to him； and to whom God has given it； may St。 Peter add his
blessing。〃
But said one of the four servants； 〃Unless； indeed； this is a
deliberate joke； I cannot bring myself to believe that men so
intelligent as those present are； or s