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highness has hit the point； and that some vile illusion must have come
before this sinner of a Sancho； that made him see what it would have
been impossible to see by any other means than enchantments； for I
know well enough； from the poor fellow's goodness and harmlessness；
that he is incapable of bearing false witness against anybody。〃
〃True； no doubt；〃 said Don Fernando； 〃for which reason； Senor Don
Quixote； you ought to forgive him and restore him to the bosom of your
favour； sicut erat in principio； before illusions of this sort had
taken away his senses。〃
Don Quixote said he was ready to pardon him； and the curate went for
Sancho； who came in very humbly； and falling on his knees begged for
the hand of his master； who having presented it to him and allowed him
to kiss it； gave him his blessing and said； 〃Now； Sancho my son；
thou wilt be convinced of the truth of what I have many a time told
thee； that everything in this castle is done by means of enchantment。〃
〃So it is； I believe；〃 said Sancho； 〃except the affair of the
blanket； which came to pass in reality by ordinary means。〃
〃Believe it not；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for had it been so； I would
have avenged thee that instant； or even now； but neither then nor
now could I； nor have I seen anyone upon whom to avenge thy wrong。〃
They were all eager to know what the affair of the blanket was；
and the landlord gave them a minute account of Sancho's flights； at
which they laughed not a little； and at which Sancho would have been
no less out of countenance had not his master once more assured him it
was all enchantment。 For all that his simplicity never reached so high
a pitch that he could persuade himself it was not the plain and simple
truth； without any deception whatever about it； that he had been
blanketed by beings of flesh and blood； and not by visionary and
imaginary phantoms； as his master believed and protested。
The illustrious company had now been two days in the inn； and as
it seemed to them time to depart； they devised a plan so that； without
giving Dorothea and Don Fernando the trouble of going back with Don
Quixote to his village under pretence of restoring Queen Micomicona；
the curate and the barber might carry him away with them as they
proposed； and the curate be able to take his madness in hand at
home； and in pursuance of their plan they arranged with the owner of
an oxcart who happened to be passing that way to carry him after
this fashion。 They constructed a kind of cage with wooden bars；
large enough to hold Don Quixote comfortably； and then Don Fernando
and his companions； the servants of Don Luis； and the officers of
the Brotherhood； together with the landlord； by the directions and
advice of the curate； covered their faces and disguised themselves；
some in one way； some in another； so as to appear to Don Quixote quite
different from the persons he had seen in the castle。 This done； in
profound silence they entered the room where he was asleep； taking his
his rest after the past frays； and advancing to where he was
sleeping tranquilly； not dreaming of anything of the kind happening；
they seized him firmly and bound him fast hand and foot； so that； when
he awoke startled； he was unable to move； and could only marvel and
wonder at the strange figures he saw before him； upon which he at once
gave way to the idea which his crazed fancy invariably conjured up
before him； and took it into his head that all these shapes were
phantoms of the enchanted castle； and that he himself was
unquestionably enchanted as he could neither move nor help himself；
precisely what the curate； the concoctor of the scheme； expected would
happen。 Of all that were there Sancho was the only one who was at once
in his senses and in his own proper character； and he； though he was
within very little of sharing his master's infirmity； did not fail
to perceive who all these disguised figures were； but he did not
dare to open his lips until he saw what came of this assault and
capture of his master； nor did the latter utter a word； waiting to the
upshot of his mishap； which was that bringing in the cage； they shut
him up in it and nailed the bars so firmly that they could not be
easily burst open。 They then took him on their shoulders； and as
they passed out of the room an awful voice… as much so as the
barber； not he of the pack…saddle but the other； was able to make
it… was heard to say； 〃O Knight of the Rueful Countenance； let not
this captivity in which thou art placed afflict thee； for this must
needs be； for the more speedy accomplishment of the adventure in which
thy great heart has engaged thee； the which shall be accomplished when
the raging Manchegan lion and the white Tobosan dove shall be linked
together； having first humbled their haughty necks to the gentle
yoke of matrimony。 And from this marvellous union shall come forth
to the light of the world brave whelps that shall rival the ravening
claws of their valiant father； and this shall come to pass ere the
pursuer of the flying nymph shall in his swift natural course have
twice visited the starry signs。 And thou； O most noble and obedient
squire that ever bore sword at side； beard on face； or nose to smell
with； be not dismayed or grieved to see the flower of
knight…errantry carried away thus before thy very eyes； for soon； if
it so please the Framer of the universe； thou shalt see thyself
exalted to such a height that thou shalt not know thyself； and the
promises which thy good master has made thee shall not prove false；
and I assure thee； on the authority of the sage Mentironiana； that thy
wages shall be paid thee； as thou shalt see in due season。 Follow then
the footsteps of the valiant enchanted knight； for it is expedient
that thou shouldst go to the destination assigned to both of you；
and as it is not permitted to me to say more； God be with thee； for
I return to that place I wot of；〃 and as he brought the prophecy to
a close he raised his voice to a high pitch； and then lowered it to
such a soft tone； that even those who knew it was all a joke were
almost inclined to take what they heard seriously。
Don Quixote was comforted by the prophecy he heard； for he at once
comprehended its meaning perfectly； and perceived it was promised to
him that he should see himself united in holy and lawful matrimony
with his beloved Dulcinea del Toboso； from whose blessed womb should
proceed the whelps； his sons； to the eternal glory of La Mancha； and
being thoroughly and firmly persuaded of this； he lifted up his voice；
and with a deep sigh exclaimed； 〃Oh thou； whoever thou art； who hast
foretold me so much good； I implore of thee that on my part thou
entreat that sage enchanter who takes charge of my interests； that
he leave me not to perish in this captivity in which they are now
carrying me away； ere I see fulfilled promises so joyful and
incomparable as those which have been now made me； for； let this but
come to pass； and I shall glory in the pains of my prison； find
comfort in these chains wherewith they bind me； and regard this bed
whereon they stretch me； not as a hard battle…field； but as a soft and
happy nupti