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Only the long…lost happiness；
The memory whereof is pain。
One taste； methinks； of bygone bliss
The heart…consuming fire might stay；
And； so it come without delay；
Then would I ask no more than this。
I ask what cannot be； alas！
That time should ever be； and then
Come back to us； and be again；
No power on earth can bring to pass；
For fleet of foot is he； I wis；
And idly； therefore； do we pray
That what for aye hath left us may
Become for us the time that is。
Perplexed； uncertain； to remain
'Twixt hope and fear； is death； not life；
'Twere better； sure； to end the strife；
And dying； seek release from pain。
And yet； thought were the best for me。
Anon the thought aside I fling；
And to the present fondly cling；
And dread the time that is to be。〃
When Don Lorenzo had finished reciting his gloss； Don Quixote
stood up； and in a loud voice； almost a shout； exclaimed as he grasped
Don Lorenzo's right hand in his； 〃By the highest heavens； noble youth；
but you are the best poet on earth； and deserve to be crowned with
laurel； not by Cyprus or by Gaeta… as a certain poet； God forgive him；
said… but by the Academies of Athens； if they still flourished； and by
those that flourish now； Paris； Bologna； Salamanca。 Heaven grant
that the judges who rob you of the first prize… that Phoebus may
pierce them with his arrows； and the Muses never cross the
thresholds of their doors。 Repeat me some of your long…measure verses；
senor； if you will be so good； for I want thoroughly to feel the pulse
of your rare genius。〃
Is there any need to say that Don Lorenzo enjoyed hearing himself
praised by Don Quixote； albeit he looked upon him as a madman？ power
of flattery； how far…reaching art thou； and how wide are the bounds of
thy pleasant jurisdiction！ Don Lorenzo gave a proof of it； for he
complied with Don Quixote's request and entreaty； and repeated to
him this sonnet on the fable or story of Pyramus and Thisbe。
SONNET
The lovely maid； she pierces now the wall；
Heart…pierced by her young Pyramus doth lie；
And Love spreads wing from Cyprus isle to fly；
A chink to view so wondrous great and small。
There silence speaketh； for no voice at all
Can pass so strait a strait； but love will ply
Where to all other power 'twere vain to try；
For love will find a way whate'er befall。
Impatient of delay； with reckless pace
The rash maid wins the fatal spot where she
Sinks not in lover's arms but death's embrace。
So runs the strange tale； how the lovers twain
One sword； one sepulchre； one memory；
Slays； and entombs； and brings to life again。
〃Blessed be God；〃 said Don Quixote when he had heard Don Lorenzo's
sonnet； 〃that among the hosts there are of irritable poets I have
found one consummate one； which； senor； the art of this sonnet
proves to me that you are！〃
For four days was Don Quixote most sumptuously entertained in Don
Diego's house； at the end of which time he asked his permission to
depart； telling him he thanked him for the kindness and hospitality he
had received in his house； but that； as it did not become
knights…errant to give themselves up for long to idleness and
luxury； he was anxious to fulfill the duties of his calling in seeking
adventures； of which he was informed there was an abundance in that
neighbourhood； where he hoped to employ his time until the day came
round for the jousts at Saragossa； for that was his proper
destination； and that； first of all； he meant to enter the cave of
Montesinos； of which so many marvellous things were reported all
through the country； and at the same time to investigate and explore
the origin and true source of the seven lakes commonly called the
lakes of Ruidera。
Don Diego and his son commended his laudable resolution； and bade
him furnish himself with all he wanted from their house and
belongings； as they would most gladly be of service to him； which；
indeed； his personal worth and his honourable profession made
incumbent upon them。
The day of his departure came at length； as welcome to Don Quixote
as it was sad and sorrowful to Sancho Panza； who was very well
satisfied with the abundance of Don Diego's house； and objected to
return to the starvation of the woods and wilds and the
short…commons of his ill…stocked alforjas； these； however； he filled
and packed with what he considered needful。 On taking leave； Don
Quixote said to Don Lorenzo； 〃I know not whether I have told you
already； but if I have I tell you once more； that if you wish to spare
yourself fatigue and toil in reaching the inaccessible summit of the
temple of fame； you have nothing to do but to turn aside out of the
somewhat narrow path of poetry and take the still narrower one of
knight…errantry； wide enough； however； to make you an emperor in the
twinkling of an eye。〃
In this speech Don Quixote wound up the evidence of his madness； but
still better in what he added when he said； 〃God knows； I would gladly
take Don Lorenzo with me to teach him how to spare the humble； and
trample the proud under foot； virtues that are part and parcel of
the profession I belong to； but since his tender age does not allow of
it； nor his praiseworthy pursuits permit it； I will simply content
myself with impressing it upon your worship that you will become
famous as a poet if you are guided by the opinion of others rather
than by your own； because no fathers or mothers ever think their own
children ill…favoured； and this sort of deception prevails still
more strongly in the case of the children of the brain。〃
Both father and son were amazed afresh at the strange medley Don
Quixote talked； at one moment sense； at another nonsense； and at the
pertinacity and persistence he displayed in going through thick and
thin in quest of his unlucky adventures； which he made the end and aim
of his desires。 There was a renewal of offers of service and
civilities； and then； with the gracious permission of the lady of
the castle； they took their departure； Don Quixote on Rocinante； and
Sancho on Dapple。
CHAPTER XIX
IN WHICH IS RELATED THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENAMOURED SHEPHERD；
TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRULY DROLL INCIDENTS
DON QUIXOTE had gone but a short distance beyond Don Diego's
village； when he fell in with a couple of either priests or
students； and a couple of peasants； mounted on four beasts of the
ass kind。 One of the students carried； wrapped up in a piece of
green buckram by way of a portmanteau； what seemed to be a little
linen and a couple of pairs of…ribbed stockings； the other carried
nothing but a pair of new fencing…foils with buttons。 The peasants
carried divers articles that showed they were on their way from some
large town where they had bought them； and were taking them home to
their village； and both students and peasants were struck with the
same amazement that everybody felt who saw Don Quixote for the first
time； and were dying to know who this man； so different from
ordinary men