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declare that it had said so and so； which fitted the case exactly。
In this way he acquired a prodigious name and all ran after him； on
other occasions； being very crafty； he would answer in such a way that
the answers suited the questions； and as no one cross…questioned him
or pressed him to tell how his ape divined； he made fools of them
all and filled his pouch。 The instant he entered the inn he knew Don
Quixote and Sancho； and with that knowledge it was easy for him to
astonish them and all who were there； but it would have cost him
dear had Don Quixote brought down his hand a little lower when he
cut off King Marsilio's head and destroyed all his horsemen； as
related in the preceeding chapter。
So much for Master Pedro and his ape； and now to return to Don
Quixote of La Mancha。 After he had left the inn he determined to
visit； first of all； the banks of the Ebro and that neighbourhood；
before entering the city of Saragossa； for the ample time there was
still to spare before the jousts left him enough for all。 With this
object in view he followed the road and travelled along it for two
days； without meeting any adventure worth committing to writing
until on the third day； as he was ascending a hill； he heard a great
noise of drums； trumpets； and musket…shots。 At first he imagined
some regiment of soldiers was passing that way； and to see them he
spurred Rocinante and mounted the hill。 On reaching the top he saw
at the foot of it over two hundred men； as it seemed to him； armed
with weapons of various sorts； lances； crossbows； partisans； halberds；
and pikes； and a few muskets and a great many bucklers。 He descended
the slope and approached the band near enough to see distinctly the
flags； make out the colours and distinguish the devices they bore；
especially one on a standard or ensign of white satin； on which
there was painted in a very life…like style an ass like a little sard；
with its head up； its mouth open and its tongue out； as if it were
in the act and attitude of braying； and round it were inscribed in
large characters these two lines…
They did not bray in vain；
Our alcaldes twain。
From this device Don Quixote concluded that these people must be
from the braying town； and he said so to Sancho； explaining to him
what was written on the standard。 At the same time be observed that
the man who had told them about the matter was wrong in saying that
the two who brayed were regidors； for according to the lines of the
standard they were alcaldes。 To which Sancho replied； 〃Senor；
there's nothing to stick at in that； for maybe the regidors who brayed
then came to he alcaldes of their town afterwards； and so they may
go by both titles； moreover； it has nothing to do with the truth of
the story whether the brayers were alcaldes or regidors； provided at
any rate they did bray； for an alcalde is just as likely to bray as
a regidor。〃 They perceived； in short； clearly that the town which
had been twitted had turned out to do battle with some other that
had jeered it more than was fair or neighbourly。
Don Quixote proceeded to join them； not a little to Sancho's
uneasiness； for he never relished mixing himself up in expeditions
of that sort。 The members of the troop received him into the midst
of them； taking him to he some one who was on their side。 Don Quixote；
putting up his visor； advanced with an easy bearing and demeanour to
the standard with the ass； and all the chief men of the army
gathered round him to look at him； staring at him with the usual
amazement that everybody felt on seeing him for the first time。 Don
Quixote； seeing them examining him so attentively； and that none of
them spoke to him or put any question to him； determined to take
advantage of their silence； so； breaking his own； he lifted up his
voice and said； 〃Worthy sirs； I entreat you as earnestly as I can
not to interrupt an argument I wish to address to you； until you
find it displeases or wearies you； and if that come to pass； on the
slightest hint you give me I will put a seal upon my lips and a gag
upon my tongue。〃
They all bade him say what he liked； for they would listen to him
willingly。
With this permission Don Quixote went on to say； 〃I； sirs； am a
knight…errant whose calling is that of arms； and whose profession is
to protect those who require protection； and give help to such as
stand in need of it。 Some days ago I became acquainted with your
misfortune and the cause which impels you to take up arms again and
again to revenge yourselves upon your enemies； and having many times
thought over your business in my mind； I find that； according to the
laws of combat； you are mistaken in holding yourselves insulted； for a
private individual cannot insult an entire community； unless it be
by defying it collectively as a traitor； because he cannot tell who in
particular is guilty of the treason for which he defies it。 Of this we
have an example in Don Diego Ordonez de Lara； who defied the whole
town of Zamora； because he did not know that Vellido Dolfos alone
had committed the treachery of slaying his king； and therefore he
defied them all； and the vengeance and the reply concerned all；
though； to be sure； Senor Don Diego went rather too far； indeed very
much beyond the limits of a defiance； for he had no occasion to defy
the dead； or the waters； or the fishes； or those yet unborn； and all
the rest of it as set forth； but let that pass； for when anger
breaks out there's no father； governor； or bridle to check the tongue。
The case being； then； that no one person can insult a kingdom；
province； city； state； or entire community； it is clear there is no
reason for going out to avenge the defiance of such an insult；
inasmuch as it is not one。 A fine thing it would be if the people of
the clock town were to be at loggerheads every moment with everyone
who called them by that name； …or the Cazoleros； Berengeneros；
Ballenatos； Jaboneros； or the bearers of all the other names and
titles that are always in the mouth of the boys and common people！
It would be a nice business indeed if all these illustrious cities
were to take huff and revenge themselves and go about perpetually
making trombones of their swords in every petty quarrel！ No； no； God
forbid！ There are four things for which sensible men and
well…ordered States ought to take up arms； draw their swords； and risk
their persons； lives； and properties。 The first is to defend the
Catholic faith； the second； to defend one's life； which is in
accordance with natural and divine law； the third； in defence of one's
honour； family； and property； the fourth； in the service of one's king
in a just war； and if to these we choose to add a fifth （which may
be included in the second）； in defence of one's country。 To these
five； as it were capital causes； there may be added some others that
may be just and reasonable； and make it a duty to take up arms； but to
take them up for trifles and things to laugh at and he amused by
rather than offended； looks as though he who did so was altogether
wanting in common sense。 Moreover； to take an unjust revenge （and
there cannot be any just one） is dire