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himself for a month at a stretch。〃
But this was not the case； for the Knight of the Grove； hearing
voices near him； instead of continuing his lamentation； stood up and
exclaimed in a distinct but courteous tone； 〃Who goes there？ What
are you？ Do you belong to the number of the happy or of the
miserable？〃
〃Of the miserable；〃 answered Don Quixote。
〃Then come to me；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃and rest assured that it
is to woe itself and affliction itself you come。〃
Don Quixote； finding himself answered in such a soft and courteous
manner； went over to him； and so did Sancho。
The doleful knight took Don Quixote by the arm； saying； 〃Sit down
here； sir knight； for； that you are one； and of those that profess
knight…errantry； it is to me a sufficient proof to have found you in
this place； where solitude and night； the natural couch and proper
retreat of knights…errant； keep you company。〃 To which Don made
answer； 〃A knight I am of the profession you mention； and though
sorrows； misfortunes； and calamities have made my heart their abode；
the compassion I feel for the misfortunes of others has not been
thereby banished from it。 From what you have just now sung I gather
that yours spring from love； I mean from the love you bear that fair
ingrate you named in your lament。〃
In the meantime； they had seated themselves together on the hard
ground peaceably and sociably； just as if； as soon as day broke；
they were not going to break one another's heads。
〃Are you； sir knight； in love perchance？〃 asked he of the Grove of
Don Quixote。
〃By mischance I am；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃though the ills arising
from well…bestowed affections should be esteemed favours rather than
misfortunes。〃
〃That is true；〃 returned he of the Grove； 〃if scorn did not unsettle
our reason and understanding； for if it be excessive it looks like
revenge。〃
〃I was never scorned by my lady；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃Certainly not；〃 said Sancho； who stood close by； 〃for my lady is as
a lamb； and softer than a roll of butter。〃
〃Is this your squire？〃 asked he of the Grove。
〃He is；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃I never yet saw a squire；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃who ventured to
speak when his master was speaking； at least； there is mine； who is as
big as his father； and it cannot be proved that he has ever opened his
lips when I am speaking。〃
〃By my faith then；〃 said Sancho； 〃I have spoken； and am fit to
speak； in the presence of one as much； or even… but never mind… it
only makes it worse to stir it。〃
The squire of the Grove took Sancho by the arm； saying to him；
〃Let us two go where we can talk in squire style as much as we please；
and leave these gentlemen our masters to fight it out over the story
of their loves； and； depend upon it； daybreak will find them at it
without having made an end of it。〃
〃So be it by all means；〃 said Sancho； 〃and I will tell your
worship who I am； that you may see whether I am to be reckoned among
the number of the most talkative squires。〃
With this the two squires withdrew to one side； and between them
there passed a conversation as droll as that which passed between
their masters was serious。
CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE GROVE；
TOGETHER WITH THE SENSIBLE； ORIGINAL； AND TRANQUIL COLLOQUY THAT
PASSED BETWEEN THE TWO SQUIRES
THE knights and the squires made two parties； these telling the
story of their lives； the others the story of their loves； but the
history relates first of all the conversation of the servants； and
afterwards takes up that of the masters； and it says that； withdrawing
a little from the others； he of the Grove said to Sancho； 〃A hard life
it is we lead and live； senor； we that are squires to
knights…errant； verily； we eat our bread in the sweat of our faces；
which is one of the curses God laid on our first parents。〃
〃It may be said； too；〃 added Sancho； 〃that we eat it in the chill of
our bodies； for who gets more heat and cold than the miserable squires
of knight…errantry？ Even so it would not be so bad if we had something
to eat； for woes are lighter if there's bread； but sometimes we go a
day or two without breaking our fast； except with the wind that
blows。〃
〃All that；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃may be endured and put up with
when we have hopes of reward； for； unless the knight…errant he
serves is excessively unlucky； after a few turns the squire will at
least find himself rewarded with a fine government of some island or
some fair county。〃
〃I；〃 said Sancho； 〃have already told my master that I shall be
content with the government of some island； and he is so noble and
generous that he has promised it to me ever so many times。〃
〃I；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃shall be satisfied with a canonry for my
services； and my master has already assigned me one。〃
〃Your master；〃 said Sancho； 〃no doubt is a knight in the Church
line； and can bestow rewards of that sort on his good squire； but mine
is only a layman； though I remember some clever； but； to my mind；
designing people； strove to persuade him to try and become an
archbishop。 He； however； would not be anything but an emperor； but I
was trembling all the time lest he should take a fancy to go into
the Church； not finding myself fit to hold office in it； for I may
tell you； though I seem a man； I am no better than a beast for the
Church。〃
〃Well； then； you are wrong there；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃for
those island governments are not all satisfactory； some are awkward；
some are poor； some are dull； and； in short； the highest and
choicest brings with it a heavy burden of cares and troubles which the
unhappy wight to whose lot it has fallen bears upon his shoulders。 Far
better would it be for us who have adopted this accursed service to go
back to our own houses； and there employ ourselves in pleasanter
occupations …in hunting or fishing； for instance； for what squire in
the world is there so poor as not to have a hack and a couple of
greyhounds and a fishingrod to amuse himself with in his own village？〃
〃I am not in want of any of those things；〃 said Sancho； 〃to be
sure I have no hack； but I have an ass that is worth my master's horse
twice over； God send me a bad Easter； and that the next one I am to
see； if I would swap； even if I got four bushels of barley to boot。
You will laugh at the value I put on my Dapple… for dapple is the
colour of my beast。 As to greyhounds； I can't want for them； for there
are enough and to spare in my town； and； moreover； there is more
pleasure in sport when it is at other people's expense。〃
〃In truth and earnest； sir squire；〃 said he of the Grove； 〃I have
made up my mind and determined to have done with these drunken
vagaries of these knights； and go back to my village； and bring up
my children； for I have three； like three Oriental pearls。〃
〃I have two；〃 said Sancho； 〃that might be presented before the
Pope himself； especially a girl whom I am breeding up for a
countess； please God； though in spite of her mother。〃
〃And how old is this lady that is being bred up for a countess？〃
asked he of the Grove。
〃Fifteen； a couple of years more or less；〃 answered Sancho； 〃bu