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〃In truth；〃 replied he on the mare； 〃I would not pass you so hastily
but for fear that horse might turn restive in the company of my mare。〃
〃You may safely hold in your mare； senor；〃 said Sancho in reply to
this； 〃for our horse is the most virtuous and well…behaved horse in
the world； he never does anything wrong on such occasions； and the
only time he misbehaved； my master and I suffered for it sevenfold；
I say again your worship may pull up if you like； for if she was
offered to him between two plates the horse would not hanker after
her。〃
The traveller drew rein； amazed at the trim and features of Don
Quixote； who rode without his helmet； which Sancho carried like a
valise in front of Dapple's pack…saddle； and if the man in green
examined Don Quixote closely； still more closely did Don Quixote
examine the man in green； who struck him as being a man of
intelligence。 In appearance he was about fifty years of age； with
but few grey hairs； an aquiline cast of features； and an expression
between grave and gay； and his dress and accoutrements showed him to
be a man of good condition。 What he in green thought of Don Quixote of
La Mancha was that a man of that sort and shape he had never yet seen；
he marvelled at the length of his hair； his lofty stature； the
lankness and sallowness of his countenance； his armour； his bearing
and his gravity… a figure and picture such as had not been seen in
those regions for many a long day。
Don Quixote saw very plainly the attention with which the
traveller was regarding him； and read his curiosity in his
astonishment； and courteous as he was and ready to please everybody；
before the other could ask him any question he anticipated him by
saying； 〃The appearance I present to your worship being so strange and
so out of the common； I should not be surprised if it filled you
with wonder； but you will cease to wonder when I tell you； as I do；
that I am one of those knights who； as people say； go seeking
adventures。 I have left my home； I have mortgaged my estate； I have
given up my comforts； and committed myself to the arms of Fortune；
to bear me whithersoever she may please。 My desire was to bring to
life again knight…errantry； now dead； and for some time past；
stumbling here； falling there； now coming down headlong； now raising
myself up again； I have carried out a great portion of my design；
succouring widows； protecting maidens； and giving aid to wives；
orphans； and minors； the proper and natural duty of knights…errant；
and； therefore； because of my many valiant and Christian achievements；
I have been already found worthy to make my way in print to
well…nigh all； or most； of the nations of the earth。 Thirty thousand
volumes of my history have been printed； and it is on the high…road to
be printed thirty thousand thousands of times； if heaven does not
put a stop to it。 In short； to sum up all in a few words； or in a
single one； I may tell you I am Don Quixote of La Mancha； otherwise
called 'The Knight of the Rueful Countenance；' for though
self…praise is degrading； I must perforce sound my own sometimes； that
is to say； when there is no one at hand to do it for me。 So that；
gentle sir； neither this horse； nor this lance； nor this shield； nor
this squire； nor all these arms put together； nor the sallowness of my
countenance； nor my gaunt leanness； will henceforth astonish you；
now that you know who I am and what profession I follow。〃
With these words Don Quixote held his peace； and； from the time he
took to answer； the man in green seemed to be at a loss for a reply；
after a long pause； however； he said to him； 〃You were right when
you saw curiosity in my amazement； sir knight； but you have not
succeeded in removing the astonishment I feel at seeing you； for
although you say； senor； that knowing who you are ought to remove
it； it has not done so； on the contrary； now that I know； I am left
more amazed and astonished than before。 What！ is it possible that
there are knights…errant in the world in these days； and histories
of real chivalry printed？ I cannot realise the fact that there can
be anyone on earth now…a…days who aids widows； or protects maidens； or
defends wives； or succours orphans； nor should I believe it had I
not seen it in your worship with my own eyes。 Blessed be heaven！ for
by means of this history of your noble and genuine chivalrous deeds；
which you say has been printed； the countless stories of fictitious
knights…errant with which the world is filled； so much to the injury
of morality and the prejudice and discredit of good histories； will
have been driven into oblivion。〃
〃There is a good deal to be said on that point；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃as to whether the histories of the knights…errant are fiction or
not。〃
〃Why； is there anyone who doubts that those histories are false？〃
said the man in green。
〃I doubt it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but never mind that just now； if
our journey lasts long enough； I trust in God I shall show your
worship that you do wrong in going with the stream of those who regard
it as a matter of certainty that they are not true。〃
From this last observation of Don Quixote's； the traveller began
to have a suspicion that he was some crazy being； and was waiting
him to confirm it by something further； but before they could turn
to any new subject Don Quixote begged him to tell him who he was；
since he himself had rendered account of his station and life。 To
this； he in the green gaban replied 〃I； Sir Knight of the Rueful
Countenance； am a gentleman by birth； native of the village where；
please God； we are going to dine today； I am more than fairly well
off； and my name is Don Diego de Miranda。 I pass my life with my wife；
children； and friends； my pursuits are hunting and fishing； but I keep
neither hawks nor greyhounds； nothing but a tame partridge or a bold
ferret or two； I have six dozen or so of books； some in our mother
tongue； some Latin； some of them history； others devotional； those
of chivalry have not as yet crossed the threshold of my door； I am
more given to turning over the profane than the devotional； so long as
they are books of honest entertainment that charm by their style and
attract and interest by the invention they display； though of these
there are very few in Spain。 Sometimes I dine with my neighbours and
friends； and often invite them； my entertainments are neat and well
served without stint of anything。 I have no taste for tattle； nor do I
allow tattling in my presence； I pry not into my neighbours' lives；
nor have I lynx…eyes for what others do。 I hear mass every day； I
share my substance with the poor； making no display of good works；
lest I let hypocrisy and vainglory； those enemies that subtly take
possession of the most watchful heart； find an entrance into mine。 I
strive to make peace between those whom I know to be at variance； I am
the devoted servant of Our Lady； and my trust is ever in the
infinite mercy of God our Lord。〃
Sancho listened with the greatest attention to the account of the
gentleman's life and occupation； and thinking it a good and a holy
life； and that he who led it ought to work miracles； he threw