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himself； and tell them what he had seen in that hell down there。
〃Hell do you call it？〃 said Don Quixote； 〃call it by no such name；
for it does not deserve it； as ye shall soon see。〃
He then begged them to give him something to eat； as he was very
hungry。 They spread the cousin's sackcloth on the grass； and put the
stores of the alforjas into requisition； and all three sitting down
lovingly and sociably； they made a luncheon and a supper of it all
in one； and when the sackcloth was removed； Don Quixote of La Mancha
said； 〃Let no one rise； and attend to me； my sons； both of you。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THE INCOMPARABLE DON QUIXOTE SAID HE SAW
IN THE PROFOUND CAVE OF MONTESINOS； THE IMPOSSIBILITY AND MAGNITUDE OF
WHICH CAUSE THIS ADVENTURE TO BE DEEMED APOCRYPHAL
IT WAS about four in the afternoon when the sun； veiled in clouds；
with subdued light and tempered beams； enabled Don Quixote to
relate； without heat or inconvenience； what he had seen in the cave of
Montesinos to his two illustrious hearers； and he began as follows：
〃A matter of some twelve or fourteen times a man's height down in
this pit； on the right…hand side； there is a recess or space； roomy
enough to contain a large cart with its mules。 A little light
reaches it through some chinks or crevices； communicating with it
and open to the surface of the earth。 This recess or space I perceived
when I was already growing weary and disgusted at finding myself
hanging suspended by the rope； travelling downwards into that dark
region without any certainty or knowledge of where I was going； so I
resolved to enter it and rest myself for a while。 I called out；
telling you not to let out more rope until I bade you； but you
cannot have heard me。 I then gathered in the rope you were sending me；
and making a coil or pile of it I seated myself upon it； ruminating
and considering what I was to do to lower myself to the bottom； having
no one to hold me up； and as I was thus deep in thought and
perplexity； suddenly and without provocation a profound sleep fell
upon me； and when I least expected it； I know not how； I awoke and
found myself in the midst of the most beautiful； delightful meadow
that nature could produce or the most lively human imagination
conceive。 I opened my eyes； I rubbed them； and found I was not
asleep but thoroughly awake。 Nevertheless； I felt my head and breast
to satisfy myself whether it was I myself who was there or some
empty delusive phantom； but touch； feeling； the collected thoughts
that passed through my mind； all convinced me that I was the same then
and there that I am this moment。 Next there presented itself to my
sight a stately royal palace or castle； with walls that seemed built
of clear transparent crystal； and through two great doors that
opened wide therein； I saw coming forth and advancing towards me a
venerable old man； clad in a long gown of mulberry…coloured serge that
trailed upon the ground。 On his shoulders and breast he had a green
satin collegiate hood； and covering his head a black Milanese
bonnet； and his snow…white beard fell below his girdle。 He carried
no arms whatever； nothing but a rosary of beads bigger than fair…sized
filberts； each tenth bead being like a moderate ostrich egg； his
bearing； his gait； his dignity and imposing presence held me
spellbound and wondering。 He approached me； and the first thing he did
was to embrace me closely； and then he said to me； 'For a long time
now； O valiant knight Don Quixote of La Mancha； we who are here
enchanted in these solitudes have been hoping to see thee； that thou
mayest make known to the world what is shut up and concealed in this
deep cave； called the cave of Montesinos； which thou hast entered；
an achievement reserved for thy invincible heart and stupendous
courage alone to attempt。 Come with me； illustrious sir； and I will
show thee the marvels hidden within this transparent castle； whereof I
am the alcaide and perpetual warden； for I am Montesinos himself； from
whom the cave takes its name。'
〃The instant he told me he was Montesinos； I asked him if the
story they told in the world above here was true； that he had taken
out the heart of his great friend Durandarte from his breast with a
little dagger； and carried it to the lady Belerma； as his friend
when at the point of death had commanded him。 He said in reply that
they spoke the truth in every respect except as to the dagger； for
it was not a dagger； nor little； but a burnished poniard sharper
than an awl。〃
〃That poniard must have been made by Ramon de Hoces the
Sevillian；〃 said Sancho。
〃I do not know；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃it could not have been by that
poniard maker； however； because Ramon de Hoces was a man of yesterday；
and the affair of Roncesvalles； where this mishap occurred； was long
ago； but the question is of no great importance； nor does it affect or
make any alteration in the truth or substance of the story。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the cousin； 〃continue； Senor Don Quixote； for I
am listening to you with the greatest pleasure in the world。〃
〃And with no less do I tell the tale；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and so； to
proceed… the venerable Montesinos led me into the palace of crystal；
where； in a lower chamber； strangely cool and entirely of alabaster；
was an elaborately wrought marble tomb； upon which I beheld； stretched
at full length； a knight； not of bronze； or marble； or jasper； as
are seen on other tombs； but of actual flesh and bone。 His right
hand （which seemed to me somewhat hairy and sinewy； a sign of great
strength in its owner） lay on the side of his heart； but before I
could put any question to Montesinos； he； seeing me gazing at the tomb
in amazement； said to me； 'This is my friend Durandarte； flower and
mirror of the true lovers and valiant knights of his time。 He is
held enchanted here； as I myself and many others are； by that French
enchanter Merlin； who； they say； was the devil's son； but my belief
is； not that he was the devil's son； but that he knew； as the saying
is； a point more than the devil。 How or why he enchanted us； no one
knows； but time will tell； and I suspect that time is not far off。
What I marvel at is； that I know it to be as sure as that it is now
day； that Durandarte ended his life in my arms； and that； after his
death； I took out his heart with my own hands； and indeed it must have
weighed more than two pounds； for； according to naturalists； he who
has a large heart is more largely endowed with valour than he who
has a small one。 Then； as this is the case； and as the knight did
really die； how comes it that he now moans and sighs from time to
time； as if he were still alive？'
〃As he said this； the wretched Durandarte cried out in a loud voice：
O cousin Montesinos！
'T was my last request of thee；
When my soul hath left the body；
And that lying dead I be；
With thy poniard or thy dagger
Cut the heart from out my breast；
And bear it to Belerma。
This was my last request。
On hearing which； the venerable Montesinos fell on his knees before
the unhappy knight； and with tearful eyes