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Mancha is； in spite and in the teeth of the enchanters who send them
to me。〃
〃So； so；〃 said the gentleman to himself at this； 〃our worthy
knight has shown of what sort he is； the curds； no doubt； have
softened his skull and brought his brains to a head。〃
At this instant Sancho came up to him； saying； 〃Senor； for God's
sake do something to keep my master； Don Quixote； from tackling
these lions； for if he does they'll tear us all to pieces here。〃
〃Is your master then so mad；〃 asked the gentleman； 〃that you believe
and are afraid he will engage such fierce animals？〃
〃He is not mad；〃 said Sancho； 〃but he is venturesome。〃
〃I will prevent it；〃 said the gentleman； and going over to Don
Quixote； who was insisting upon the keeper's opening the cages； he
said to him； 〃Sir knight； knights…errant should attempt adventures
which encourage the hope of a successful issue； not those which
entirely withhold it； for valour that trenches upon temerity savours
rather of madness than of courage； moreover； these lions do not come
to oppose you； nor do they dream of such a thing； they are going as
presents to his Majesty； and it will not be right to stop them or
delay their journey。〃
〃Gentle sir；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃you go and mind your tame
partridge and your bold ferret； and leave everyone to manage his own
business； this is mine； and I know whether these gentlemen the lions
come to me or not；〃 and then turning to the keeper he exclaimed； 〃By
all that's good； sir scoundrel； if you don't open the cages this
very instant； I'll pin you to the cart with this lance。〃
The carter； seeing the determination of this apparition in armour；
said to him； 〃Please your worship； for charity's sake； senor； let me
unyoke the mules and place myself in safety along with them before the
lions are turned out； for if they kill them on me I am ruined for
life； for all I possess is this cart and mules。〃
〃O man of little faith；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃get down and
unyoke； you will soon see that you are exerting yourself for
nothing； and that you might have spared yourself the trouble。〃
The carter got down and with all speed unyoked the mules； and the
keeper called out at the top of his voice； 〃I call all here to witness
that against my will and under compulsion I open the cages and let the
lions loose； and that I warn this gentleman that he will be
accountable for all the harm and mischief which these beasts may do；
and for my salary and dues as well。 You； gentlemen； place yourselves
in safety before I open； for I know they will do me no harm。〃
Once more the gentleman strove to persuade Don Quixote not to do
such a mad thing； as it was tempting God to engage in such a piece
of folly。 To this； Don Quixote replied that he knew what he was about。
The gentleman in return entreated him to reflect； for he knew he was
under a delusion。
〃Well； senor；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃if you do not like to be a
spectator of this tragedy； as in your opinion it will be； spur your
flea…bitten mare； and place yourself in safety。〃
Hearing this； Sancho with tears in his eyes entreated him to give up
an enterprise compared with which the one of the windmills； and the
awful one of the fulling mills； and； in fact； all the feats he had
attempted in the whole course of his life； were cakes and fancy bread。
〃Look ye； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃there's no enchantment here； nor
anything of the sort； for between the bars and chinks of the cage I
have seen the paw of a real lion； and judging by that I reckon the
lion such a paw could belong to must be bigger than a mountain。〃
〃Fear at any rate；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃will make him look
bigger to thee than half the world。 Retire； Sancho； and leave me；
and if I die here thou knowest our old compact； thou wilt repair to
Dulcinea… I say no more。〃 To these he added some further words that
banished all hope of his giving up his insane project。 He of the green
gaban would have offered resistance； but he found himself
ill…matched as to arms； and did not think it prudent to come to
blows with a madman； for such Don Quixote now showed himself to be
in every respect； and the latter； renewing his commands to the
keeper and repeating his threats； gave warning to the gentleman to
spur his mare； Sancho his Dapple； and the carter his mules； all
striving to get away from the cart as far as they could before the
lions broke loose。 Sancho was weeping over his master's death； for
this time he firmly believed it was in store for him from the claws of
the lions； and he cursed his fate and called it an unlucky hour when
he thought of taking service with him again； but with all his tears
and lamentations he did not forget to thrash Dapple so as to put a
good space between himself and the cart。 The keeper； seeing that the
fugitives were now some distance off； once more entreated and warned
him as before； but he replied that he heard him； and that he need
not trouble himself with any further warnings or entreaties； as they
would be fruitless； and bade him make haste。
During the delay that occurred while the keeper was opening the
first cage； Don Quixote was considering whether it would not be well
to do battle on foot； instead of on horseback； and finally resolved to
fight on foot； fearing that Rocinante might take fright at the sight
of the lions； he therefore sprang off his horse； flung his lance
aside； braced his buckler on his arm； and drawing his sword；
advanced slowly with marvellous intrepidity and resolute courage； to
plant himself in front of the cart； commending himself with all his
heart to God and to his lady Dulcinea。
It is to be observed； that on coming to this passage； the author
of this veracious history breaks out into exclamations。 〃O doughty Don
Quixote！ high…mettled past extolling！ Mirror； wherein all the heroes
of the world may see themselves！ Second modern Don Manuel de Leon；
once the glory and honour of Spanish knighthood！ In what words shall I
describe this dread exploit； by what language shall I make it credible
to ages to come； what eulogies are there unmeet for thee； though
they be hyperboles piled on hyperboles！ On foot； alone； undaunted；
high…souled； with but a simple sword； and that no trenchant blade of
the Perrillo brand； a shield； but no bright polished steel one；
there stoodst thou； biding and awaiting the two fiercest lions that
Africa's forests ever bred！ Thy own deeds be thy praise； valiant
Manchegan； and here I leave them as they stand； wanting the words
wherewith to glorify them！〃
Here the author's outburst came to an end； and he proceeded to
take up the thread of his story； saying that the keeper； seeing that
Don Quixote had taken up his position； and that it was impossible
for him to avoid letting out the male without incurring the enmity
of the fiery and daring knight； flung open the doors of the first
cage； containing； as has been said； the lion； which was now seen to be
of enormous size； and grim and hideous mien。 The first thing he did
was to turn round in the cage in which he lay； and protrude his claws；
and stretch himself thoroughly； he next opened his mouth； and yawned
very leisurely； and with near two