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experiments with it； he passed it and adopted it as a helmet of the
most perfect construction。
He next proceeded to inspect his hack； which； with more quartos than
a real and more blemishes than the steed of Gonela； that 〃tantum
pellis et ossa fuit；〃 surpassed in his eyes the Bucephalus of
Alexander or the Babieca of the Cid。 Four days were spent in
thinking what name to give him； because （as he said to himself） it was
not right that a horse belonging to a knight so famous； and one with
such merits of his own； should be without some distinctive name； and
he strove to adapt it so as to indicate what he had been before
belonging to a knight…errant； and what he then was； for it was only
reasonable that； his master taking a new character； he should take a
new name； and that it should be a distinguished and full…sounding one；
befitting the new order and calling he was about to follow。 And so；
after having composed； struck out； rejected； added to； unmade； and
remade a multitude of names out of his memory and fancy； he decided
upon calling him Rocinante； a name； to his thinking； lofty；
sonorous； and significant of his condition as a hack before he
became what he now was； the first and foremost of all the hacks in the
world。
Having got a name for his horse so much to his taste； he was anxious
to get one for himself； and he was eight days more pondering over this
point； till at last he made up his mind to call himself 〃Don Quixote；〃
whence； as has been already said； the authors of this veracious
history have inferred that his name must have been beyond a doubt
Quixada； and not Quesada as others would have it。 Recollecting；
however； that the valiant Amadis was not content to call himself
curtly Amadis and nothing more； but added the name of his kingdom
and country to make it famous； and called himself Amadis of Gaul；
he； like a good knight； resolved to add on the name of his； and to
style himself Don Quixote of La Mancha； whereby； he considered； he
described accurately his origin and country； and did honour to it in
taking his surname from it。
So then； his armour being furbished； his morion turned into a
helmet； his hack christened； and he himself confirmed； he came to
the conclusion that nothing more was needed now but to look out for
a lady to be in love with； for a knight…errant without love was like a
tree without leaves or fruit； or a body without a soul。 As he said
to himself； 〃If； for my sins； or by my good fortune； I come across
some giant hereabouts； a common occurrence with knights…errant； and
overthrow him in one onslaught； or cleave him asunder to the waist；
or； in short； vanquish and subdue him； will it not be well to have
some one I may send him to as a present； that he may come in and
fall on his knees before my sweet lady； and in a humble； submissive
voice say； 'I am the giant Caraculiambro； lord of the island of
Malindrania； vanquished in single combat by the never sufficiently
extolled knight Don Quixote of La Mancha； who has commanded me to
present myself before your Grace； that your Highness dispose of me
at your pleasure'？〃 Oh； how our good gentleman enjoyed the delivery of
this speech； especially when he had thought of some one to call his
Lady！ There was； so the story goes； in a village near his own a very
good…looking farm…girl with whom he had been at one time in love；
though； so far as is known； she never knew it nor gave a thought to
the matter。 Her name was Aldonza Lorenzo； and upon her he thought
fit to confer the title of Lady of his Thoughts； and after some search
for a name which should not be out of harmony with her own； and should
suggest and indicate that of a princess and great lady； he decided
upon calling her Dulcinea del Toboso …she being of El Toboso… a
name； to his mind； musical； uncommon； and significant； like all
those he had already bestowed upon himself and the things belonging to
him。
CHAPTER II
WHICH TREATS OF THE FIRST SALLY THE INGENIOUS DON QUIXOTE MADE
FROM HOME
THESE preliminaries settled； he did not care to put off any longer
the execution of his design； urged on to it by the thought of all
the world was losing by his delay； seeing what wrongs he intended to
right； grievances to redress； injustices to repair； abuses to
remove； and duties to discharge。 So； without giving notice of his
intention to anyone； and without anybody seeing him； one morning
before the dawning of the day （which was one of the hottest of the
month of July） he donned his suit of armour； mounted Rocinante with
his patched…up helmet on； braced his buckler； took his lance； and by
the back door of the yard sallied forth upon the plain in the
highest contentment and satisfaction at seeing with what ease he had
made a beginning with his grand purpose。 But scarcely did he find
himself upon the open plain； when a terrible thought struck him； one
all but enough to make him abandon the enterprise at the very
outset。 It occurred to him that he had not been dubbed a knight； and
that according to the law of chivalry he neither could nor ought to
bear arms against any knight； and that even if he had been； still he
ought； as a novice knight； to wear white armour； without a device upon
the shield until by his prowess he had earned one。 These reflections
made him waver in his purpose； but his craze being stronger than any
reasoning； he made up his mind to have himself dubbed a knight by
the first one he came across； following the example of others in the
same case； as he had read in the books that brought him to this
pass。 As for white armour； he resolved； on the first opportunity； to
scour his until it was whiter than an ermine； and so comforting
himself he pursued his way； taking that which his horse chose； for
in this he believed lay the essence of adventures。
Thus setting out； our new…fledged adventurer paced along； talking to
himself and saying； 〃Who knows but that in time to come； when the
veracious history of my famous deeds is made known； the sage who
writes it； when he has to set forth my first sally in the early
morning； will do it after this fashion？ 'Scarce had the rubicund
Apollo spread o'er the face of the broad spacious earth the golden
threads of his bright hair； scarce had the little birds of painted
plumage attuned their notes to hail with dulcet and mellifluous
harmony the coming of the rosy Dawn； that； deserting the soft couch of
her jealous spouse； was appearing to mortals at the gates and
balconies of the Manchegan horizon； when the renowned knight Don
Quixote of La Mancha； quitting the lazy down； mounted his celebrated
steed Rocinante and began to traverse the ancient and famous Campo
de Montiel；'〃 which in fact he was actually traversing。 〃Happy the
age； happy the time；〃 he continued； 〃in which shall be made known my
deeds of fame； worthy to be moulded in brass； carved in marble； limned
in pictures； for a memorial for ever。 And thou； O sage magician；
whoever thou art； to whom it shall fall to be the chronicler of this
wondrous history； forget not； I entreat thee； my good Rocinante； the
constant companion of my ways and wanderings。〃 Presently he broke
out again； as if he were love…stri