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pummelled； said to him； 〃Brother devil （for it is impossible but
that thou must be one since thou hast had might and strength enough to
overcome mine）； I ask thee to agree to a truce for but one hour for
the solemn note of yonder trumpet that falls on our ears seems to me
to summon me to some new adventure。〃 The goatherd； who was by this
time tired of pummelling and being pummelled； released him at once；
and Don Quixote rising to his feet and turning his eyes to the quarter
where the sound had been heard； suddenly saw coming down the slope
of a hill several men clad in white like penitents。
The fact was that the clouds had that year withheld their moisture
from the earth； and in all the villages of the district they were
organising processions； rogations； and penances； imploring God to open
the hands of his mercy and send the rain； and to this end the people
of a village that was hard by were going in procession to a holy
hermitage there was on one side of that valley。 Don Quixote when he
saw the strange garb of the penitents； without reflecting how often he
had seen it before； took it into his head that this was a case of
adventure； and that it fell to him alone as a knight…errant to
engage in it； and he was all the more confirmed in this notion； by the
idea that an image draped in black they had with them was some
illustrious lady that these villains and discourteous thieves were
carrying off by force。 As soon as this occurred to him he ran with all
speed to Rocinante who was grazing at large； and taking the bridle and
the buckler from the saddle…bow； he had him bridled in an instant； and
calling to Sancho for his sword he mounted Rocinante； braced his
buckler on his arm； and in a loud voice exclaimed to those who stood
by； 〃Now； noble company； ye shall see how important it is that there
should be knights in the world professing the of knight…errantry； now；
I say； ye shall see； by the deliverance of that worthy lady who is
borne captive there； whether knights…errant deserve to be held in
estimation；〃 and so saying he brought his legs to bear on Rocinante…
for he had no spurs… and at a full canter （for in all this veracious
history we never read of Rocinante fairly galloping） set off to
encounter the penitents； though the curate； the canon； and the
barber ran to prevent him。 But it was out of their power； nor did he
even stop for the shouts of Sancho calling after him； 〃Where are you
going； Senor Don Quixote？ What devils have possessed you to set you on
against our Catholic faith？ Plague take me！ mind； that is a procession
of penitents； and the lady they are carrying on that stand there is
the blessed image of the immaculate Virgin。 Take care what you are
doing； senor； for this time it may be safely said you don't know
what you are about。〃 Sancho laboured in vain； for his master was so
bent on coming to quarters with these sheeted figures and releasing
the lady in black that he did not hear a word； and even had he
heard； he would not have turned back if the king had ordered him。 He
came up with the procession and reined in Rocinante； who was already
anxious enough to slacken speed a little； and in a hoarse； excited
voice he exclaimed； 〃You who hide your faces； perhaps because you
are not good subjects； pay attention and listen to what I am about
to say to you。〃 The first to halt were those who were carrying the
image； and one of the four ecclesiastics who were chanting the Litany；
struck by the strange figure of Don Quixote； the leanness of
Rocinante； and the other ludicrous peculiarities he observed； said
in reply to him； 〃Brother； if you have anything to say to us say it
quickly； for these brethren are whipping themselves； and we cannot
stop； nor is it reasonable we should stop to hear anything； unless
indeed it is short enough to be said in two words。〃
〃I will say it in one；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and it is this； that
at once； this very instant； ye release that fair lady whose tears
and sad aspect show plainly that ye are carrying her off against her
will； and that ye have committed some scandalous outrage against
her； and I； who was born into the world to redress all such like
wrongs； will not permit you to advance another step until you have
restored to her the liberty she pines for and deserves。〃
From these words all the hearers concluded that he must be a madman；
and began to laugh heartily； and their laughter acted like gunpowder
on Don Quixote's fury； for drawing his sword without another word he
made a rush at the stand。 One of those who supported it； leaving the
burden to his comrades； advanced to meet him； flourishing a forked
stick that he had for propping up the stand when resting； and with
this he caught a mighty cut Don Quixote made at him that severed it in
two； but with the portion that remained in his hand he dealt such a
thwack on the shoulder of Don Quixote's sword arm （which the buckler
could not protect against the clownish assault） that poor Don
Quixote came to the ground in a sad plight。
Sancho Panza； who was coming on close behind puffing and blowing；
seeing him fall； cried out to his assailant not to strike him again；
for he was poor enchanted knight； who had never harmed anyone all
the days of his life； but what checked the clown was； not Sancho's
shouting； but seeing that Don Quixote did not stir hand or foot； and
so； fancying he had killed him； he hastily hitched up his tunic
under his girdle and took to his heels across the country like a deer。
By this time all Don Quixote's companions had come up to where he
lay； but the processionists seeing them come running； and with them
the officers of the Brotherhood with their crossbows； apprehended
mischief； and clustering round the image； raised their hoods； and
grasped their scourges； as the priests did their tapers； and awaited
the attack； resolved to defend themselves and even to take the
offensive against their assailants if they could。 Fortune； however；
arranged the matter better than they expected； for all Sancho did
was to fling himself on his master's body； raising over him the most
doleful and laughable lamentation that ever was heard； for he believed
he was dead。 The curate was known to another curate who walked in
the procession； and their recognition of one another set at rest the
apprehensions of both parties； the first then told the other in two
words who Don Quixote was； and he and the whole troop of penitents
went to see if the poor gentleman was dead； and heard Sancho Panza
saying； with tears in his eyes； 〃Oh flower of chivalry； that with
one blow of a stick hast ended the course of thy well…spent life！ Oh
pride of thy race； honour and glory of all La Mancha； nay； of all
the world； that for want of thee will be full of evil…doers； no longer
in fear of punishment for their misdeeds！ Oh thou； generous above
all the Alexanders； since for only eight months of service thou hast
given me the best island the sea girds or surrounds！ Humble with the
proud； haughty with the humble； encounterer of dangers； endurer of
outrages； enamoured without reason； imitator of the good； scourge of
the wicked； enemy of the mean； in short； knight…erra