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wanting in common sense。 Moreover； to take an unjust revenge （and
there cannot be any just one） is directly opposed to the sacred law
that we acknowledge； wherein we are commanded to do good to our
enemies and to love them that hate us； a command which； though it
seems somewhat difficult to obey； is only so to those who have in them
less of God than of the world； and more of the flesh than of the
spirit； for Jesus Christ； God and true man； who never lied； and
could not and cannot lie； said； as our law…giver； that his yoke was
easy and his burden light； he would not； therefore； have laid any
command upon us that it was impossible to obey。 Thus； sirs； you are
bound to keep quiet by human and divine law。〃
〃The devil take me；〃 said Sancho to himself at this； 〃but this
master of mine is a tologian； or； if not； faith； he's as like one as
one egg is like another。〃
Don Quixote stopped to take breath； and； observing that silence
was still preserved； had a mind to continue his discourse； and would
have done so had not Sancho interposed with his smartness； for he；
seeing his master pause； took the lead； saying； 〃My lord Don Quixote
of La Mancha； who once was called the Knight of the Rueful
Countenance； but now is called the Knight of the Lions； is a gentleman
of great discretion who knows Latin and his mother tongue like a
bachelor； and in everything that he deals with or advises proceeds
like a good soldier； and has all the laws and ordinances of what
they call combat at his fingers' ends； so you have nothing to do but
to let yourselves be guided by what he says； and on my head be it if
it is wrong。 Besides which； you have been told that it is folly to
take offence at merely hearing a bray。 I remember when I was a boy I
brayed as often as I had a fancy； without anyone hindering me； and
so elegantly and naturally that when I brayed all the asses in the
town would bray； but I was none the less for that the son of my
parents who were greatly respected； and though I was envied because of
the gift by more than one of the high and mighty ones of the town； I
did not care two farthings for it； and that you may see I am telling
the truth； wait a bit and listen； for this art； like swimming； once
learnt is never forgotten；〃 and then； taking hold of his nose； he
began to bray so vigorously that all the valleys around rang again。
One of those； however； that stood near him； fancying he was
mocking them； lifted up a long staff he had in his hand and smote
him such a blow with it that Sancho dropped helpless to the ground。
Don Quixote； seeing him so roughly handled； attacked the man who had
struck him lance in hand； but so many thrust themselves between them
that he could not avenge him。 Far from it； finding a shower of
stones rained upon him； and crossbows and muskets unnumbered
levelled at him； he wheeled Rocinante round and； as fast as his best
gallop could take him； fled from the midst of them； commending himself
to God with all his heart to deliver him out of this peril； in dread
every step of some ball coming in at his back and coming out at his
breast； and every minute drawing his breath to see whether it had gone
from him。 The members of the band； however； were satisfied with seeing
him take to flight； and did not fire on him。 They put up Sancho；
scarcely restored to his senses； on his ass； and let him go after
his master； not that he was sufficiently in his wits to guide the
beast； but Dapple followed the footsteps of Rocinante； from whom he
could not remain a moment separated。 Don Quixote having got some way
off looked back； and seeing Sancho coming； waited for him； as he
perceived that no one followed him。 The men of the troop stood their
ground till night； and as the enemy did not come out to battle； they
returned to their town exulting； and had they been aware of the
ancient custom of the Greeks； they would have erected a trophy on
the spot。
CHAPTER XXVIII
OF MATTERS THAT BENENGELI SAYS HE WHO READS THEM WILL KNOW； IF HE
READS THEM WITH ATTENTION
WHEN the brave man flees； treachery is manifest and it is for wise
men to reserve themselves for better occasions。 This proved to be
the case with Don Quixote； who； giving way before the fury of the
townsfolk and the hostile intentions of the angry troop； took to
flight and； without a thought of Sancho or the danger in which he
was leaving him； retreated to such a distance as he thought made him
safe。 Sancho； lying across his ass； followed him； as has been said；
and at length came up； having by this time recovered his senses； and
on joining him let himself drop off Dapple at Rocinante's feet；
sore； bruised； and belaboured。 Don Quixote dismounted to examine his
wounds； but finding him whole from head to foot； he said to him；
angrily enough； 〃In an evil hour didst thou take to braying； Sancho！
Where hast thou learned that it is well done to mention the rope in
the house of the man that has been hanged？ To the music of brays
what harmonies couldst thou expect to get but cudgels？ Give thanks
to God； Sancho； that they signed the cross on thee just now with a
stick； and did not mark thee per signum crucis with a cutlass。〃
〃I'm not equal to answering；〃 said Sancho； 〃for I feel as if I was
speaking through my shoulders； let us mount and get away from this；
I'll keep from braying； but not from saying that knights…errant fly
and leave their good squires to be pounded like privet； or made meal
of at the hands of their enemies。〃
〃He does not fly who retires；〃 returned Don Quixote； 〃for I would
have thee know； Sancho； that the valour which is not based upon a
foundation of prudence is called rashness； and the exploits of the
rash man are to be attributed rather to good fortune than to
courage； and so I own that I retired； but not that I fled； and therein
I have followed the example of many valiant men who have reserved
themselves for better times； the histories are full of instances of
this； but as it would not be any good to thee or pleasure to me； I
will not recount them to thee now。〃
Sancho was by this time mounted with the help of Don Quixote； who
then himself mounted Rocinante； and at a leisurely pace they proceeded
to take shelter in a grove which was in sight about a quarter of a
league off。 Every now and then Sancho gave vent to deep sighs and
dismal groans； and on Don Quixote asking him what caused such acute
suffering； he replied that； from the end of his back…bone up to the
nape of his neck； he was so sore that it nearly drove him out of his
senses。
〃The cause of that soreness；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃will be； no
doubt； that the staff wherewith they smote thee being a very long one；
it caught thee all down the back； where all the parts that are sore
are situated； and had it reached any further thou wouldst be sorer
still。〃
〃By God；〃 said Sancho； 〃your worship has relieved me of a great
doubt； and cleared up the point for me in elegant style！ Body o' me！
is the cause of my soreness such a mystery that there's any need to
tell me I am sore everywhere the staff hit me？ If it was my ankles
that pained me there might be something in going divining why they
did； but it is not