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Knight of the Rueful Countenance； that your first experience on my
ground should have been such an unfortunate one as we have seen； but
the carelessness of squires is often the cause of worse accidents。〃
〃That which has happened me in meeting you； mighty prince；〃
replied Don Quixote； 〃cannot be unfortunate； even if my fall had not
stopped short of the depths of the bottomless pit； for the glory of
having seen you would have lifted me up and delivered me from it。 My
squire； God's curse upon him； is better at unloosing his tongue in
talking impertinence than in tightening the girths of a saddle to keep
it steady； but however I may be； allen or raised up； on foot or on
horseback； I shall always be at your service and that of my lady the
duchess； your worthy consort； worthy queen of beauty and paramount
princess of courtesy。〃
〃Gently； Senor Don Quixote of La Mancha；〃 said the duke； 〃where my
lady Dona Dulcinea del Toboso is； it is not right that other
beauties should he praised。〃
Sancho； by this time released from his entanglement； was standing
by； and before his master could answer he said； 〃There is no
denying； and it must be maintained； that my lady Dulcinea del Toboso
is very beautiful； but the hare jumps up where one least expects it；
and I have heard say that what we call nature is like a potter that
makes vessels of clay； and he who makes one fair vessel can as well
make two； or three； or a hundred； I say so because； by my faith； my
lady the duchess is in no way behind my mistress the lady Dulcinea del
Toboso。〃
Don Quixote turned to the duchess and said； 〃Your highness may
conceive that never had knight…errant in this world a more talkative
or a droller squire than I have； and he will prove the truth of what I
say； if your highness is pleased to accept of my services for a few
days。〃
To which the duchess made answer； 〃that worthy Sancho is droll I
consider a very good thing； because it is a sign that he is shrewd；
for drollery and sprightliness； Senor Don Quixote； as you very well
know； do not take up their abode with dull wits； and as good Sancho is
droll and sprightly I here set him down as shrewd。〃
〃And talkative；〃 added Don Quixote。
〃So much the better；〃 said the duke； 〃for many droll things cannot
be said in few words； but not to lose time in talking； come； great
Knight of the Rueful Countenance…〃
〃Of the Lions； your highness must say；〃 said Sancho； 〃for there is
no Rueful Countenance nor any such character now。〃
〃He of the Lions be it；〃 continued the duke； 〃I say； let Sir
Knight of the Lions come to a castle of mine close by； where he
shall be given that reception which is due to so exalted a
personage； and which the duchess and I are wont to give to all
knights…errant who come there。〃
By this time Sancho had fixed and girthed Rocinante's saddle； and
Don Quixote having got on his back and the duke mounted a fine
horse； they placed the duchess in the middle and set out for the
castle。 The duchess desired Sancho to come to her side； for she
found infinite enjoyment in listening to his shrewd remarks。 Sancho
required no pressing； but pushed himself in between them and the duke；
who thought it rare good fortune to receive such a knight…errant and
such a homely squire in their castle。
CHAPTER XXXI
WHICH TREATS OF MANY AND GREAT MATTERS
SUPREME was the satisfaction that Sancho felt at seeing himself；
as it seemed； an established favourite with the duchess； for he looked
forward to finding in her castle what he had found in Don Diego's
house and in Basilio's； he was always fond of good living； and
always seized by the forelock any opportunity of feasting himself
whenever it presented itself。 The history informs us； then； that
before they reached the country house or castle； the duke went on in
advance and instructed all his servants how they were to treat Don
Quixote； and so the instant he came up to the castle gates with the
duchess； two lackeys or equerries； clad in what they call morning
gowns of fine crimson satin reaching to their feet； hastened out；
and catching Don Quixote in their arms before he saw or heard them；
said to him； 〃Your highness should go and take my lady the duchess off
her horse。〃 Don Quixote obeyed； and great bandying of compliments
followed between the two over the matter； but in the end the duchess's
determination carried the day； and she refused to get down or dismount
from her palfrey except in the arms of the duke； saying she did not
consider herself worthy to impose so unnecessary a burden on so
great a knight。 At length the duke came out to take her down； and as
they entered a spacious court two fair damsels came forward and
threw over Don Quixote's shoulders a large mantle of the finest
scarlet cloth； and at the same instant all the galleries of the
court were lined with the men…servants and women…servants of the
household； crying； 〃Welcome； flower and cream of knight…errantry！〃
while all or most of them flung pellets filled with scented water over
Don Quixote and the duke and duchess； at all which Don Quixote was
greatly astonished； and this was the first time that he thoroughly
felt and believed himself to be a knight…errant in reality and not
merely in fancy； now that he saw himself treated in the same way as he
had read of such knights being treated in days of yore。
Sancho； deserting Dapple； hung on to the duchess and entered the
castle； but feeling some twinges of conscience at having left the
ass alone； he approached a respectable duenna who had come out with
the rest to receive the duchess； and in a low voice he said to her；
〃Senora Gonzalez； or however your grace may be called…〃
〃I am called Dona Rodriguez de Grijalba；〃 replied the duenna；
〃what is your will； brother？〃 To which Sancho made answer； 〃I should
be glad if your worship would do me the favour to go out to the castle
gate； where you will find a grey ass of mine； make them； if you
please； put him in the stable； or put him there yourself； for the poor
little beast is rather easily frightened； and cannot bear being
alone at all。〃
〃If the master is as wise as the man；〃 said the duenna； 〃we have got
a fine bargain。 Be off with you； brother； and bad luck to you and
him who brought you here； go； look after your ass； for we； the duennas
of this house； are not used to work of that sort。〃
〃Well then； in troth；〃 returned Sancho； 〃I have heard my master； who
is the very treasure…finder of stories； telling the story of
Lancelot when he came from Britain； say that ladies waited upon him
and duennas upon his hack； and； if it comes to my ass； I wouldn't
change him for Senor Lancelot's hack。〃
〃If you are a jester； brother；〃 said the duenna； 〃keep your
drolleries for some place where they'll pass muster and be paid for；
for you'll get nothing from me but a fig。〃
〃At any rate； it will be a very ripe one；〃 said Sancho； 〃for you
won't lose the trick in years by a point too little。〃
〃Son of a bitch；〃 said the duenna； all aglow with anger； 〃whether
I'm old or not； it's with God I have to reckon； not with you； you
garlic…stuffed scoundrel！〃 and she said it so loud； that the duchess
heard it； and t