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which he returned to his village with the reputation of being very
learned and deeply read。 〃Above all； they said； he was learned in
the science of the stars and of what went on yonder in the heavens and
the sun and the moon； for he told us of the cris of the sun and moon
to exact time。〃
〃Eclipse it is called； friend； not cris； the darkening of those
two luminaries；〃 said Don Quixote； but Pedro； not troubling himself
with trifles； went on with his story； saying； 〃Also he foretold when
the year was going to be one of abundance or estility。〃
〃Sterility； you mean；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃Sterility or estility；〃 answered Pedro； 〃it is all the same in
the end。 And I can tell you that by this his father and friends who
believed him grew very rich because they did as he advised them；
bidding them 'sow barley this year； not wheat； this year you may sow
pulse and not barley； the next there will be a full oil crop； and
the three following not a drop will be got。'〃
〃That science is called astrology；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃I do not know what it is called；〃 replied Pedro； 〃but I know that
he knew all this and more besides。 But； to make an end； not many
months had passed after he returned from Salamanca； when one day he
appeared dressed as a shepherd with his crook and sheepskin； having
put off the long gown he wore as a scholar； and at the same time his
great friend； Ambrosio by name； who had been his companion in his
studies； took to the shepherd's dress with him。 I forgot to say that
Chrysostom； who is dead； was a great man for writing verses； so much
so that he made carols for Christmas Eve； and plays for Corpus
Christi； which the young men of our village acted； and all said they
were excellent。 When the villagers saw the two scholars so
unexpectedly appearing in shepherd's dress； they were lost in
wonder； and could not guess what had led them to make so extraordinary
a change。 About this time the father of our Chrysostom died； and he
was left heir to a large amount of property in chattels as well as
in land； no small number of cattle and sheep； and a large sum of
money； of all of which the young man was left dissolute owner； and
indeed he was deserving of it all； for he was a very good comrade； and
kind…hearted； and a friend of worthy folk； and had a countenance
like a benediction。 Presently it came to be known that he had
changed his dress with no other object than to wander about these
wastes after that shepherdess Marcela our lad mentioned a while ago；
with whom the deceased Chrysostom had fallen in love。 And I must
tell you now； for it is well you should know it； who this girl is；
perhaps； and even without any perhaps； you will not have heard
anything like it all the days of your life； though you should live
more years than sarna。〃
〃Say Sarra；〃 said Don Quixote； unable to endure the goatherd's
confusion of words。
〃The sarna lives long enough；〃 answered Pedro； 〃and if； senor； you
must go finding fault with words at every step； we shall not make an
end of it this twelvemonth。〃
〃Pardon me； friend；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but； as there is such a
difference between sarna and Sarra； I told you of it； however； you
have answered very rightly； for sarna lives longer than Sarra： so
continue your story； and I will not object any more to anything。〃
〃I say then； my dear sir；〃 said the goatherd； 〃that in our village
there was a farmer even richer than the father of Chrysostom； who
was named Guillermo； and upon whom God bestowed； over and above
great wealth； a daughter at whose birth her mother died； the most
respected woman there was in this neighbourhood； I fancy I can see her
now with that countenance which had the sun on one side and the moon
on the other； and moreover active； and kind to the poor； for which I
trust that at the present moment her soul is in bliss with God in
the other world。 Her husband Guillermo died of grief at the death of
so good a wife； leaving his daughter Marcela； a child and rich； to the
care of an uncle of hers； a priest and prebendary in our village。
The girl grew up with such beauty that it reminded us of her mother's；
which was very great； and yet it was thought that the daughter's would
exceed it； and so when she reached the age of fourteen to fifteen
years nobody beheld her but blessed God that had made her so
beautiful； and the greater number were in love with her past
redemption。 Her uncle kept her in great seclusion and retirement；
but for all that the fame of her great beauty spread so that； as
well for it as for her great wealth； her uncle was asked； solicited；
and importuned； to give her in marriage not only by those of our
town but of those many leagues round； and by the persons of highest
quality in them。 But he； being a good Christian man； though he desired
to give her in marriage at once； seeing her to be old enough； was
unwilling to do so without her consent； not that he had any eye to the
gain and profit which the custody of the girl's property brought him
while he put off her marriage； and； faith； this was said in praise
of the good priest in more than one set in the town。 For I would
have you know； Sir Errant； that in these little villages everything is
talked about and everything is carped at； and rest assured； as I am；
that the priest must be over and above good who forces his
parishioners to speak well of him； especially in villages。〃
〃That is the truth；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but go on； for the story
is very good； and you； good Pedro； tell it with very good grace。〃
〃May that of the Lord not be wanting to me；〃 said Pedro； 〃that is
the one to have。 To proceed； you must know that though the uncle put
before his niece and described to her the qualities of each one in
particular of the many who had asked her in marriage； begging her to
marry and make a choice according to her own taste； she never gave any
other answer than that she had no desire to marry just yet； and that
being so young she did not think herself fit to bear the burden of
matrimony。 At these； to all appearance； reasonable excuses that she
made； her uncle ceased to urge her； and waited till she was somewhat
more advanced in age and could mate herself to her own liking。 For；
said he… and he said quite right… parents are not to settle children
in life against their will。 But when one least looked for it； lo and
behold！ one day the demure Marcela makes her appearance turned
shepherdess； and； in spite of her uncle and all those of the town that
strove to dissuade her； took to going a…field with the other
shepherd…lasses of the village； and tending her own flock。 And so；
since she appeared in public； and her beauty came to be seen openly； I
could not well tell you how many rich youths； gentlemen and
peasants； have adopted the costume of Chrysostom； and go about these
fields making love to her。 One of these； as has been already said； was
our deceased friend； of whom they say that he did not love but adore
her。 But you must not suppose； because Marcela chose a life of such
liberty and independence； and of so little or rather no retirement；
that she has given any occasion； or even the semblance of one； for
disparagement of her pu