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and stretch himself thoroughly； he next opened his mouth； and yawned
very leisurely； and with near two palms' length of tongue that he
had thrust forth； he licked the dust out of his eyes and washed his
face； having done this； he put his head out of the cage and looked all
round with eyes like glowing coals； a spectacle and demeanour to
strike terror into temerity itself。 Don Quixote merely observed him
steadily； longing for him to leap from the cart and come to close
quarters with him； when he hoped to hew him in pieces。
So far did his unparalleled madness go； but the noble lion； more
courteous than arrogant； not troubling himself about silly bravado；
after having looked all round； as has been said； turned about and
presented his hind…quarters to Don Quixote； and very coolly and
tranquilly lay down again in the cage。 Seeing this； Don Quixote
ordered the keeper to take a stick to him and provoke him to make
him come out。
〃That I won't；〃 said the keeper； 〃for if I anger him； the first
he'll tear in pieces will be myself。 Be satisfied； sir knight； with
what you have done； which leaves nothing more to be said on the
score of courage； and do not seek to tempt fortune a second time。
The lion has the door open； he is free to come out or not to come out；
but as he has not come out so far； he will not come out to…day。 Your
worship's great courage has been fully manifested already； no brave
champion； so it strikes me； is bound to do more than challenge his
enemy and wait for him on the field； if his adversary does not come；
on him lies the disgrace； and he who waits for him carries off the
crown of victory。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃close the door； my friend； and
let me have； in the best form thou canst； what thou hast seen me do；
by way of certificate； to wit； that thou didst open for the lion； that
I waited for him； that he did not come out； that I still waited for
him； and that still he did not come out； and lay down again。 I am
not bound to do more； enchantments avaunt； and God uphold the right；
the truth； and true chivalry！ Close the door as I bade thee； while I
make signals to the fugitives that have left us； that they may learn
this exploit from thy lips。〃
The keeper obeyed； and Don Quixote； fixing on the point of his lance
the cloth he had wiped his face with after the deluge of curds；
proceeded to recall the others； who still continued to fly； looking
back at every step； all in a body； the gentleman bringing up the rear。
Sancho； however； happening to observe the signal of the white cloth；
exclaimed； 〃May I die； if my master has not overcome the wild
beasts； for he is calling to us。〃
They all stopped； and perceived that it was Don Quixote who was
making signals； and shaking off their fears to some extent； they
approached slowly until they were near enough to hear distinctly Don
Quixote's voice calling to them。 They returned at length to the
cart； and as they came up； Don Quixote said to the carter； 〃Put your
mules to once more； brother； and continue your journey； and do thou；
Sancho； give him two gold crowns for himself and the keeper； to
compensate for the delay they have incurred through me。〃
〃That will I give with all my heart；〃 said Sancho； 〃but what has
become of the lions？ Are they dead or alive？〃
The keeper； then； in full detail； and bit by bit； described the
end of the contest； exalting to the best of his power and ability
the valour of Don Quixote； at the sight of whom the lion quailed；
and would not and dared not come out of the cage； although he had held
the door open ever so long； and showing how； in consequence of his
having represented to the knight that it was tempting God to provoke
the lion in order to force him out； which he wished to have done； he
very reluctantly； and altogether against his will； had allowed the
door to be closed。
〃What dost thou think of this； Sancho？〃 said Don Quixote。 〃Are there
any enchantments that can prevail against true valour？ The
enchanters may be able to rob me of good fortune； but of fortitude and
courage they cannot。〃
Sancho paid the crowns； the carter put to； the keeper kissed Don
Quixote's hands for the bounty bestowed upon him； and promised to give
an account of the valiant exploit to the King himself； as soon as he
saw him at court。
〃Then；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃if his Majesty should happen to ask who
performed it； you must say THE KNIGHT OF THE LIONS； for it is my
desire that into this the name I have hitherto borne of Knight of
the Rueful Countenance be from this time forward changed； altered；
transformed； and turned； and in this I follow the ancient usage of
knights…errant； who changed their names when they pleased； or when
it suited their purpose。〃
The cart went its way； and Don Quixote； Sancho； and he of the
green gaban went theirs。 All this time； Don Diego de Miranda had not
spoken a word； being entirely taken up with observing and noting all
that Don Quixote did and said； and the opinion he formed was that he
was a man of brains gone mad； and a madman on the verge of
rationality。 The first part of his history had not yet reached him；
for； had he read it； the amazement with which his words and deeds
filled him would have vanished； as he would then have understood the
nature of his madness； but knowing nothing of it； he took him to be
rational one moment； and crazy the next； for what he said was
sensible； elegant； and well expressed； and what he did； absurd；
rash； and foolish； and said he to himself； 〃What could be madder
than putting on a helmet full of curds； and then persuading oneself
that enchanters are softening one's skull； or what could be greater
rashness and folly than wanting to fight lions tooth and nail？〃
Don Quixote roused him from these reflections and this soliloquy
by saying； 〃No doubt； Senor Don Diego de Miranda； you set me down in
your mind as a fool and a madman； and it would be no wonder if you
did； for my deeds do not argue anything else。 But for all that； I
would have you take notice that I am neither so mad nor so foolish
as I must have seemed to you。 A gallant knight shows to advantage
bringing his lance to bear adroitly upon a fierce bull under the
eyes of his sovereign； in the midst of a spacious plaza； a knight
shows to advantage arrayed in glittering armour； pacing the lists
before the ladies in some joyous tournament； and all those knights
show to advantage that entertain； divert； and； if we may say so；
honour the courts of their princes by warlike exercises； or what
resemble them； but to greater advantage than all these does a
knight…errant show when he traverses deserts； solitudes；
cross…roads； forests； and mountains； in quest of perilous
adventures； bent on bringing them to a happy and successful issue； all
to win a glorious and lasting renown。 To greater advantage； I
maintain； does the knight…errant show bringing aid to some widow in
some lonely waste； than the court knight dallying with some city
damsel。 All knights have their own special parts to play； let the
courtier devote himself to the ladies； let him add lustre to his
sovereign's court by his liveries； let him entertain poor gentlemen
with t