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sun does not yield light； or ice cold； or earth nourishment。 What
wit in the world can persuade another that the story of the Princess
Floripes and Guy of Burgundy is not true； or that of Fierabras and the
bridge of Mantible； which happened in the time of Charlemagne？ For
by all that is good it is as true as that it is daylight now； and if
it be a lie； it must be a lie too that there was a Hector； or
Achilles； or Trojan war； or Twelve Peers of France； or Arthur of
England； who still lives changed into a raven； and is unceasingly
looked for in his kingdom。 One might just as well try to make out that
the history of Guarino Mezquino； or of the quest of the Holy Grail； is
false； or that the loves of Tristram and the Queen Yseult are
apocryphal； as well as those of Guinevere and Lancelot； when there are
persons who can almost remember having seen the Dame Quintanona； who
was the best cupbearer in Great Britain。 And so true is this； that I
recollect a grandmother of mine on the father's side； whenever she saw
any dame in a venerable hood； used to say to me； 'Grandson； that one
is like Dame Quintanona；' from which I conclude that she must have
known her； or at least had managed to see some portrait of her。 Then
who can deny that the story of Pierres and the fair Magalona is
true； when even to this day may be seen in the king's armoury the
pin with which the valiant Pierres guided the wooden horse he rode
through the air； and it is a trifle bigger than the pole of a cart？
And alongside of the pin is Babieca's saddle； and at Roncesvalles
there is Roland's horn； as large as a large beam； whence we may
infer that there were Twelve Peers； and a Pierres； and a Cid； and
other knights like them； of the sort people commonly call adventurers。
Or perhaps I shall be told； too； that there was no such
knight…errant as the valiant Lusitanian Juan de Merlo； who went to
Burgundy and in the city of Arras fought with the famous lord of
Charny； Mosen Pierres by name； and afterwards in the city of Basle
with Mosen Enrique de Remesten； coming out of both encounters
covered with fame and honour； or adventures and challenges achieved
and delivered； also in Burgundy； by the valiant Spaniards Pedro
Barba and Gutierre Quixada （of whose family I come in the direct
male line）； when they vanquished the sons of the Count of San Polo。
I shall be told； too； that Don Fernando de Guevara did not go in quest
of adventures to Germany； where he engaged in combat with Micer
George； a knight of the house of the Duke of Austria。 I shall be
told that the jousts of Suero de Quinones； him of the 'Paso；' and
the emprise of Mosen Luis de Falces against the Castilian knight；
Don Gonzalo de Guzman； were mere mockeries； as well as many other
achievements of Christian knights of these and foreign realms； which
are so authentic and true； that； I repeat； he who denies them must
be totally wanting in reason and good sense。〃
The canon was amazed to hear the medley of truth and fiction Don
Quixote uttered； and to see how well acquainted he was with everything
relating or belonging to the achievements of his knight…errantry； so
he said in reply：
〃I cannot deny； Senor Don Quixote； that there is some truth in
what you say； especially as regards the Spanish knights…errant； and
I am willing to grant too that the Twelve Peers of France existed； but
I am not disposed to believe that they did all the things that the
Archbishop Turpin relates of them。 For the truth of the matter is they
were knights chosen by the kings of France； and called 'Peers' because
they were all equal in worth； rank and prowess （at least if they
were not they ought to have been）； and it was a kind of religious
order like those of Santiago and Calatrava in the present day； in
which it is assumed that those who take it are valiant knights of
distinction and good birth； and just as we say now a Knight of St。
John； or of Alcantara； they used to say then a Knight of the Twelve
Peers； because twelve equals were chosen for that military order。 That
there was a Cid； as well as a Bernardo del Carpio； there can be no
doubt； but that they did the deeds people say they did； I hold to be
very doubtful。 In that other matter of the pin of Count Pierres that
you speak of； and say is near Babieca's saddle in the Armoury； I
confess my sin； for I am either so stupid or so short…sighted； that；
though I have seen the saddle； I have never been able to see the
pin； in spite of it being as big as your worship says it is。〃
〃For all that it is there； without any manner of doubt；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃and more by token they say it is inclosed in a sheath of
cowhide to keep it from rusting。〃
〃All that may be；〃 replied the canon； 〃but； by the orders I have
received； I do not remember seeing it。 However； granting it is
there； that is no reason why I am bound to believe the stories of
all those Amadises and of all that multitude of knights they tell us
about； nor is it reasonable that a man like your worship； so worthy；
and with so many good qualities； and endowed with such a good
understanding； should allow himself to be persuaded that such wild
crazy things as are written in those absurd books of chivalry are
really true。〃
CHAPTER L
OF THE SHREWD CONTROVERSY WHICH DON QUIXOTE AND THE CANON HELD；
TOGETHER WITH OTHER INCIDENTS
〃A GOOD joke； that！〃 returned Don Quixote。 〃Books that have been
printed with the king's licence； and with the approbation of those
to whom they have been submitted； and read with universal delight； and
extolled by great and small； rich and poor； learned and ignorant；
gentle and simple； in a word by people of every sort； of whatever rank
or condition they may be… that these should be lies！ And above all
when they carry such an appearance of truth with them； for they tell
us the father； mother； country； kindred； age； place； and the
achievements； step by step； and day by day； performed by such a knight
or knights！ Hush； sir； utter not such blasphemy； trust me I am
advising you now to act as a sensible man should； only read them；
and you will see the pleasure you will derive from them。 For； come；
tell me； can there be anything more delightful than to see； as it
were； here now displayed before us a vast lake of bubbling pitch
with a host of snakes and serpents and lizards； and ferocious and
terrible creatures of all sorts swimming about in it； while from the
middle of the lake there comes a plaintive voice saying： 'Knight；
whosoever thou art who beholdest this dread lake； if thou wouldst
win the prize that lies hidden beneath these dusky waves； prove the
valour of thy stout heart and cast thyself into the midst of its
dark burning waters； else thou shalt not be worthy to see the mighty
wonders contained in the seven castles of the seven Fays that lie
beneath this black expanse；' and then the knight； almost ere the awful
voice has ceased； without stopping to consider； without pausing to
reflect upon the danger to which he is exposing himself； without
even relieving himself of the weight of his massive armour； commending
himself to God and to his lady； plunges into the midst of the
boiling lake； and when he little l