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of Horace； and with elegance like his； commend him； for it is
legitimate for a poet to write against envy and lash the envious in
his verse； and the other vices too； provided he does not single out
individuals； there are； however； poets who； for the sake of saying
something spiteful； would run the risk of being banished to the
coast of Pontus。 If the poet be pure in his morals； he will be pure in
his verses too； the pen is the tongue of the mind； and as the thought
engendered there； so will be the things that it writes down。 And when
kings and princes observe this marvellous science of poetry in wise；
virtuous； and thoughtful subjects； they honour； value； exalt them； and
even crown them with the leaves of that tree which the thunderbolt
strikes not； as if to show that they whose brows are honoured and
adorned with such a crown are not to be assailed by anyone。〃
He of the green gaban was filled with astonishment at Don Quixote's
argument； so much so that he began to abandon the notion he had taken
up about his being crazy。 But in the middle of the discourse； it being
not very much to his taste； Sancho had turned aside out of the road to
beg a little milk from some shepherds； who were milking their ewes
hard by； and just as the gentleman； highly pleased； was about to renew
the conversation； Don Quixote； raising his head； perceived a cart
covered with royal flags coming along the road they were travelling；
and persuaded that this must be some new adventure； he called aloud to
Sancho to come and bring him his helmet。 Sancho； hearing himself
called； quitted the shepherds； and； prodding Dapple vigorously； came
up to his master； to whom there fell a terrific and desperate
adventure。
CHAPTER XVII
WHEREIN IS SHOWN THE FURTHEST AND HIGHEST POINT WHICH THE UNEXAMPLED
COURAGE OF DON QUIXOTE REACHED OR COULD REACH； TOGETHER WITH THE
HAPPILY ACHIEVED ADVENTURE OF THE LIONS
THE history tells that when Don Quixote called out to Sancho to
bring him his helmet； Sancho was buying some curds the shepherds
agreed to sell him； and flurried by the great haste his master was
in did not know what to do with them or what to carry them in； so； not
to lose them； for he had already paid for them； he thought it best
to throw them into his master's helmet； and acting on this bright idea
he went to see what his master wanted with him。 He； as he
approached； exclaimed to him：
〃Give me that helmet； my friend； for either I know little of
adventures； or what I observe yonder is one that will； and does；
call upon me to arm myself。〃
He of the green gaban； on hearing this； looked in all directions；
but could perceive nothing； except a cart coming towards them with two
or three small flags； which led him to conclude it must be carrying
treasure of the King's； and he said so to Don Quixote。 He； however；
would not believe him； being always persuaded and convinced that all
that happened to him must be adventures and still more adventures；
so he replied to the gentleman； 〃He who is prepared has his battle
half fought； nothing is lost by my preparing myself； for I know by
experience that I have enemies； visible and invisible； and I know
not when； or where； or at what moment； or in what shapes they will
attack me；〃 and turning to Sancho he called for his helmet； and
Sancho； as he had no time to take out the curds； had to give it just
as it was。 Don Quixote took it； and without perceiving what was in
it thrust it down in hot haste upon his head； but as the curds were
pressed and squeezed the whey began to run all over his face and
beard； whereat he was so startled that he cried out to Sancho：
〃Sancho； what's this？ I think my head is softening； or my brains are
melting； or I am sweating from head to foot！ If I am sweating it is
not indeed from fear。 I am convinced beyond a doubt that the adventure
which is about to befall me is a terrible one。 Give me something to
wipe myself with； if thou hast it； for this profuse sweat is
blinding me。〃
Sancho held his tongue； and gave him a cloth； and gave thanks to God
at the same time that his master had not found out what was the
matter。 Don Quixote then wiped himself； and took off his helmet to see
what it was that made his head feel so cool； and seeing all that white
mash inside his helmet he put it to his nose； and as soon as he had
smelt it he exclaimed：
〃By the life of my lady Dulcinea del Toboso； but it is curds thou
hast put here； thou treacherous； impudent； ill…mannered squire！〃
To which； with great composure and pretended innocence； Sancho
replied； 〃If they are curds let me have them； your worship； and I'll
eat them； but let the devil eat them； for it must have been he who put
them there。 I dare to dirty your helmet！ You have guessed the offender
finely！ Faith； sir； by the light God gives me； it seems I must have
enchanters too； that persecute me as a creature and limb of your
worship； and they must have put that nastiness there in order to
provoke your patience to anger； and make you baste my ribs as you
are wont to do。 Well； this time； indeed； they have missed their aim；
for I trust to my master's good sense to see that I have got no
curds or milk； or anything of the sort； and that if I had it is in
my stomach I would put it and not in the helmet。〃
〃May he so；〃 said Don Quixote。 All this the gentleman was observing；
and with astonishment； more especially when； after having wiped
himself clean； his head； face； beard； and helmet； Don Quixote put it
on； and settling himself firmly in his stirrups； easing his sword in
the scabbard； and grasping his lance； he cried； 〃Now； come who will；
here am I； ready to try conclusions with Satan himself in person！〃
By this time the cart with the flags had come up； unattended by
anyone except the carter on a mule； and a man sitting in front。 Don
Quixote planted himself before it and said； 〃Whither are you going；
brothers？ What cart is this？ What have you got in it？ What flags are
those？〃
To this the carter replied； 〃The cart is mine； what is in it is a
pair of wild caged lions； which the governor of Oran is sending to
court as a present to his Majesty； and the flags are our lord the
King's； to show that what is here is his property。〃
〃And are the lions large？〃 asked Don Quixote。
〃So large；〃 replied the man who sat at the door of the cart； 〃that
larger； or as large； have never crossed from Africa to Spain； I am the
keeper； and I have brought over others； but never any like these。 They
are male and female； the male is in that first cage and the female
in the one behind； and they are hungry now； for they have eaten
nothing to…day； so let your worship stand aside； for we must make
haste to the place where we are to feed them。〃
Hereupon； smiling slightly； Don Quixote exclaimed； 〃Lion…whelps to
me！ to me whelps of lions； and at such a time！ Then； by God！ those
gentlemen who send them here shall see if I am a man to be
frightened by lions。 Get down； my good fellow； and as you are the
keeper open the cages； and turn me out those beasts； and in the
midst of this plain I will let them know who Don Quixote of La
Mancha is； in spite and in the teeth of the enc