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passed on without stopping。 Don Quixote called to him； 〃Stay； good
fellow； you seem to be making more haste than suits that mule。〃
〃I cannot stop； senor；〃 answered the man； 〃for the arms you see I
carry here are to be used tomorrow； so I must not delay； God be with
you。 But if you want to know what I am carrying them for； I mean to
lodge to…night at the inn that is beyond the hermitage； and if you
be going the same road you will find me there； and I will tell you
some curious things； once more God be with you；〃 and he urged on his
mule at such a pace that Don Quixote had no time to ask him what these
curious things were that he meant to tell them； and as he was somewhat
inquisitive； and always tortured by his anxiety to learn something
new； he decided to set out at once； and go and pass the night at the
inn instead of stopping at the hermitage； where the cousin would
have had them halt。 Accordingly they mounted and all three took the
direct road for the inn； which they reached a little before nightfall。
On the road the cousin proposed they should go up to the hermitage
to drink a sup。 The instant Sancho heard this he steered his Dapple
towards it； and Don Quixote and the cousin did the same； but it
seems Sancho's bad luck so ordered it that the hermit was not at home；
for so a sub…hermit they found in the hermitage told them。 They called
for some of the best。 She replied that her master had none； but that
if they liked cheap water she would give it with great pleasure。
〃If I found any in water；〃 said Sancho； 〃there are wells along the
road where I could have had enough of it。 Ah； Camacho's wedding； and
plentiful house of Don Diego； how often do I miss you！〃
Leaving the hermitage； they pushed on towards the inn； and a
little farther they came upon a youth who was pacing along in front of
them at no great speed； so that they overtook him。 He carried a
sword over his shoulder； and slung on it a budget or bundle of his
clothes apparently； probably his breeches or pantaloons； and his cloak
and a shirt or two； for he had on a short jacket of velvet with a
gloss like satin on it in places； and had his shirt out； his stockings
were of silk； and his shoes square…toed as they wear them at court。
His age might have been eighteen or nineteen； he was of a merry
countenance； and to all appearance of an active habit； and he went
along singing seguidillas to beguile the wearisomeness of the road。 As
they came up with him he was just finishing one； which the cousin
got by heart and they say ran thus…
I'm off to the wars
For the want of pence；
Oh； had I but money
I'd show more sense。
The first to address him was Don Quixote； who said； 〃You travel very
airily； sir gallant； whither bound； may we ask； if it is your pleasure
to tell us？〃
To which the youth replied； 〃The heat and my poverty are the
reason of my travelling so airily； and it is to the wars that I am
bound。〃
〃How poverty？〃 asked Don Quixote； 〃the heat one can understand。〃
〃Senor；〃 replied the youth； 〃in this bundle I carry velvet
pantaloons to match this jacket； if I wear them out on the road； I
shall not be able to make a decent appearance in them in the city； and
I have not the wherewithal to buy others； and so for this reason； as
well as to keep myself cool； I am making my way in this fashion to
overtake some companies of infantry that are not twelve leagues off；
in which I shall enlist； and there will be no want of baggage trains
to travel with after that to the place of embarkation； which they
say will be Carthagena； I would rather have the King for a master； and
serve him in the wars； than serve a court pauper。〃
〃And did you get any bounty； now？〃 asked the cousin。
〃If I had been in the service of some grandee of Spain or
personage of distinction；〃 replied the youth； 〃I should have been safe
to get it； for that is the advantage of serving good masters； that out
of the servants' hall men come to be ancients or captains； or get a
good pension。 But I； to my misfortune； always served place…hunters and
adventurers； whose keep and wages were so miserable and scanty that
half went in paying for the starching of one's collars； it would be
a miracle indeed if a page volunteer ever got anything like a
reasonable bounty。〃
〃And tell me； for heaven's sake；〃 asked Don Quixote； 〃is it
possible； my friend； that all the time you served you never got any
livery？〃
〃They gave me two；〃 replied the page； 〃but just as when one quits
a religious community before making profession； they strip him of
the dress of the order and give him back his own clothes； so did my
masters return me mine； for as soon as the business on which they came
to court was finished； they went home and took back the liveries
they had given merely for show。〃
〃What spilorceria！… as an Italian would say；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but
for all that； consider yourself happy in having left court with as
worthy an object as you have； for there is nothing on earth more
honourable or profitable than serving； first of all God； and then
one's king and natural lord； particularly in the profession of arms；
by which； if not more wealth； at least more honour is to be won than
by letters； as I have said many a time； for though letters may have
founded more great houses than arms； still those founded by arms
have I know not what superiority over those founded by letters； and
a certain splendour belonging to them that distinguishes them above
all。 And bear in mind what I am now about to say to you； for it will
be of great use and comfort to you in time of trouble； it is； not to
let your mind dwell on the adverse chances that may befall you； for
the worst of all is death； and if it be a good death； the best of
all is to die。 They asked Julius Caesar； the valiant Roman emperor；
what was the best death。 He answered； that which is unexpected；
which comes suddenly and unforeseen； and though he answered like a
pagan； and one without the knowledge of the true God； yet； as far as
sparing our feelings is concerned； he was right； for suppose you are
killed in the first engagement or skirmish； whether by a cannon ball
or blown up by mine； what matters it？ It is only dying； and all is
over； and according to Terence； a soldier shows better dead in battle；
than alive and safe in flight； and the good soldier wins fame in
proportion as he is obedient to his captains and those in command over
him。 And remember； my son； that it is better for the soldier to
smell of gunpowder than of civet； and that if old age should come upon
you in this honourable calling； though you may be covered with
wounds and crippled and lame； it will not come upon you without
honour； and that such as poverty cannot lessen； especially now that
provisions are being made for supporting and relieving old and
disabled soldiers； for it is not right to deal with them after the
fashion of those who set free and get rid of their black slaves when
they are old and useless； and； turning them out of their houses
under the pretence of making them free； make them slaves to hunger；
from which they cannot expect to be released except by deat