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courtier devote himself to the ladies； let him add lustre to his
sovereign's court by his liveries； let him entertain poor gentlemen
with the sumptuous fare of his table； let him arrange joustings；
marshal tournaments； and prove himself noble； generous； and
magnificent； and above all a good Christian； and so doing he will
fulfil the duties that are especially his； but let the knight…errant
explore the corners of the earth and penetrate the most intricate
labyrinths； at each step let him attempt impossibilities； on
desolate heaths let him endure the burning rays of the midsummer
sun； and the bitter inclemency of the winter winds and frosts； let
no lions daunt him； no monsters terrify him； no dragons make him
quail； for to seek these； to attack those； and to vanquish all； are in
truth his main duties。 I； then； as it has fallen to my lot to be a
member of knight…errantry； cannot avoid attempting all that to me
seems to come within the sphere of my duties； thus it was my bounden
duty to attack those lions that I just now attacked； although I knew
it to be the height of rashness； for I know well what valour is；
that it is a virtue that occupies a place between two vicious
extremes； cowardice and temerity； but it will be a lesser evil for him
who is valiant to rise till he reaches the point of rashness； than
to sink until he reaches the point of cowardice； for； as it is
easier for the prodigal than for the miser to become generous； so it
is easier for a rash man to prove truly valiant than for a coward to
rise to true valour； and believe me； Senor Don Diego； in attempting
adventures it is better to lose by a card too many than by a card
too few； for to hear it said； 'such a knight is rash and daring；'
sounds better than 'such a knight is timid and cowardly。'〃
〃I protest； Senor Don Quixote；〃 said Don Diego； 〃everything you have
said and done is proved correct by the test of reason itself； and I
believe； if the laws and ordinances of knight…errantry should be lost；
they might be found in your worship's breast as in their own proper
depository and muniment…house； but let us make haste； and reach my
village； where you shall take rest after your late exertions； for if
they have not been of the body they have been of the spirit； and these
sometimes tend to produce bodily fatigue。〃
〃I take the invitation as a great favour and honour； Senor Don
Diego；〃 replied Don Quixote； and pressing forward at a better pace
than before； at about two in the afternoon they reached the village
and house of Don Diego； or； as Don Quixote called him； 〃The Knight
of the Green Gaban。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
OF WHAT HAPPENED DON QUIXOTE IN THE CASTLE OR HOUSE OF THE KNIGHT OF
THE GREEN GABAN； TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS OUT OF THE COMMON
DON QUIXOTE found Don Diego de Miranda's house built in village
style； with his arms in rough stone over the street door； in the patio
was the store…room； and at the entrance the cellar； with plenty of
wine…jars standing round； which； coming from El Toboso； brought back
to his memory his enchanted and transformed Dulcinea； and with a sigh；
and not thinking of what he was saying； or in whose presence he was；
he exclaimed…
〃O ye sweet treasures； to my sorrow found！
Once sweet and welcome when 'twas heaven's good…will。
O ye Tobosan jars； how ye bring back to my memory the sweet object
of my bitter regrets！〃
The student poet； Don Diego's son； who had come out with his
mother to receive him； heard this exclamation； and both mother and son
were filled with amazement at the extraordinary figure he presented；
he； however； dismounting from Rocinante； advanced with great
politeness to ask permission to kiss the lady's hand； while Don
Diego said； 〃Senora； pray receive with your wonted kindness Senor
Don Quixote of La Mancha； whom you see before you； a knight…errant；
and the bravest and wisest in the world。〃
The lady； whose name was Dona Christina； received him with every
sign of good…will and great courtesy； and Don Quixote placed himself
at her service with an abundance of well…chosen and polished
phrases。 Almost the same civilities were exchanged between him and the
student； who listening to Don Quixote； took him to be a sensible；
clear…headed person。
Here the author describes minutely everything belonging to Don
Diego's mansion； putting before us in his picture the whole contents
of a rich gentleman…farmer's house； but the translator of the
history thought it best to pass over these and other details of the
same sort in silence； as they are not in harmony with the main purpose
of the story； the strong point of which is truth rather than dull
digressions。
They led Don Quixote into a room； and Sancho removed his armour；
leaving him in loose Walloon breeches and chamois…leather doublet； all
stained with the rust of his armour； his collar was a falling one of
scholastic cut； without starch or lace； his buskins buff…coloured； and
his shoes polished。 He wore his good sword； which hung in a baldric of
sea…wolf's skin； for he had suffered for many years； they say； from an
ailment of the kidneys； and over all he threw a long cloak of good
grey cloth。 But first of all； with five or six buckets of water （for
as regard the number of buckets there is some dispute）； he washed
his head and face； and still the water remained whey…coloured；
thanks to Sancho's greediness and purchase of those unlucky curds that
turned his master so white。 Thus arrayed； and with an easy； sprightly；
and gallant air； Don Quixote passed out into another room； where the
student was waiting to entertain him while the table was being laid；
for on the arrival of so distinguished a guest； Dona Christina was
anxious to show that she knew how and was able to give a becoming
reception to those who came to her house。
While Don Quixote was taking off his armour； Don Lorenzo （for so Don
Diego's son was called） took the opportunity to say to his father；
〃What are we to make of this gentleman you have brought home to us；
sir？ For his name； his appearance； and your describing him as a
knight…errant have completely puzzled my mother and me。〃
〃I don't know what to say； my son；〃 replied。 Don Diego； 〃all I can
tell thee is that I have seen him act the acts of the greatest
madman in the world； and heard him make observations so sensible
that they efface and undo all he does； do thou talk to him and feel
the pulse of his wits； and as thou art shrewd； form the most
reasonable conclusion thou canst as to his wisdom or folly； though； to
tell the truth； I am more inclined to take him to be mad than sane。〃
With this Don Lorenzo went away to entertain Don Quixote as has been
said； and in the course of the conversation that passed between them
Don Quixote said to Don Lorenzo； 〃Your father； Senor Don Diego de
Miranda； has told me of the rare abilities and subtle intellect you
possess； and； above all； that you are a great poet。〃
〃A poet； it may be；〃 replied Don Lorenzo； 〃but a great one； by no
means。 It is true that I am somewhat given to poetry and to reading
good poets； but not so much so as to justify the title of 'great'
which my father gives me。〃
〃I do