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garlic…stuffed scoundrel！〃 and she said it so loud； that the duchess
heard it； and turning round and seeing the duenna in such a state of
excitement； and her eyes flaming so； asked whom she was wrangling
with。
〃With this good fellow here；〃 said the duenna； 〃who has particularly
requested me to go and put an ass of his that is at the castle gate
into the stable； holding it up to me as an example that they did the
same I don't know where… that some ladies waited on one Lancelot；
and duennas on his hack； and what is more； to wind up with； he
called me old。〃
〃That；〃 said the duchess； 〃I should have considered the greatest
affront that could be offered me；〃 and addressing Sancho； she said
to him； 〃You must know； friend Sancho； that Dona Rodriguez is very
youthful； and that she wears that hood more for authority and custom
sake than because of her years。〃
〃May all the rest of mine be unlucky；〃 said Sancho； 〃if I meant it
that way； I only spoke because the affection I have for my ass is so
great； and I thought I could not commend him to a more kind…hearted
person than the lady Dona Rodriguez。〃
Don Quixote； who was listening； said to him； 〃Is this proper
conversation for the place； Sancho？〃
〃Senor；〃 replied Sancho； 〃every one must mention what he wants
wherever he may be； I thought of Dapple here； and I spoke of him here；
if I had thought of him in the stable I would have spoken there。〃
On which the duke observed； 〃Sancho is quite right； and there is
no reason at all to find fault with him； Dapple shall be fed to his
heart's content； and Sancho may rest easy； for he shall be treated
like himself。〃
While this conversation； amusing to all except Don Quixote； was
proceeding； they ascended the staircase and ushered Don Quixote into a
chamber hung with rich cloth of gold and brocade； six damsels relieved
him of his armour and waited on him like pages； all of them prepared
and instructed by the duke and duchess as to what they were to do； and
how they were to treat Don Quixote； so that he might see and believe
they were treating him like a knight…errant。 When his armour was
removed； there stood Don Quixote in his tight…fitting breeches and
chamois doublet； lean； lanky； and long； with cheeks that seemed to
be kissing each other inside； such a figure； that if the damsels
waiting on him had not taken care to check their merriment （which
was one of the particular directions their master and mistress had
given them）； they would have burst with laughter。 They asked him to
let himself be stripped that they might put a shirt on him； but he
would not on any account； saying that modesty became knights…errant
just as much as valour。 However； he said they might give the shirt
to Sancho； and shutting himself in with him in a room where there
was a sumptuous bed； he undressed and put on the shirt； and then；
finding himself alone with Sancho； he said to him； 〃Tell me； thou
new…fledged buffoon and old booby； dost thou think it right to
offend and insult a duenna so deserving of reverence and respect as
that one just now？ Was that a time to bethink thee of thy Dapple； or
are these noble personages likely to let the beasts fare badly when
they treat their owners in such elegant style？ For God's sake； Sancho；
restrain thyself； and don't show the thread so as to let them see what
a coarse； boorish texture thou art of。 Remember； sinner that thou art；
the master is the more esteemed the more respectable and well…bred his
servants are； and that one of the greatest advantages that princes
have over other men is that they have servants as good as themselves
to wait on them。 Dost thou not see… shortsighted being that thou
art； and unlucky mortal that I am！… that if they perceive thee to be a
coarse clown or a dull blockhead； they will suspect me to be some
impostor or swindler？ Nay； nay； Sancho friend； keep clear； oh； keep
clear of these stumbling…blocks； for he who falls into the way of
being a chatterbox and droll； drops into a wretched buffoon the
first time he trips； bridle thy tongue； consider and weigh thy words
before they escape thy mouth； and bear in mind we are now in
quarters whence； by God's help； and the strength of my arm； we shall
come forth mightily advanced in fame and fortune。〃
Sancho promised him with much earnestness to keep his mouth shut；
and to bite off his tongue before he uttered a word that was not
altogether to the purpose and well considered； and told him he might
make his mind easy on that point； for it should never be discovered
through him what they were。
Don Quixote dressed himself； put on his baldric with his sword；
threw the scarlet mantle over his shoulders； placed on his head a
montera of green satin that the damsels had given him； and thus
arrayed passed out into the large room； where he found the damsels
drawn up in double file； the same number on each side； all with the
appliances for washing the hands； which they presented to him with
profuse obeisances and ceremonies。 Then came twelve pages； together
with the seneschal； to lead him to dinner； as his hosts were already
waiting for him。 They placed him in the midst of them； and with much
pomp and stateliness they conducted him into another room； where there
was a sumptuous table laid with but four covers。 The duchess and the
duke came out to the door of the room to receive him； and with them
a grave ecclesiastic； one of those who rule noblemen's houses； one
of those who； not being born magnates themselves； never know how to
teach those who are how to behave as such； one of those who would have
the greatness of great folk measured by their own narrowness of
mind； one of those who； when they try to introduce economy into the
household they rule； lead it into meanness。 One of this sort； I say；
must have been the grave churchman who came out with the duke and
duchess to receive Don Quixote。
A vast number of polite speeches were exchanged； and at length；
taking Don Quixote between them； they proceeded to sit down to
table。 The duke pressed Don Quixote to take the head of the table；
and； though he refused； the entreaties of the duke were so urgent that
he had to accept it。
The ecclesiastic took his seat opposite to him； and the duke and
duchess those at the sides。 All this time Sancho stood by； gaping with
amazement at the honour he saw shown to his master by these
illustrious persons； and observing all the ceremonious pressing that
had passed between the duke and Don Quixote to induce him to take
his seat at the head of the table； he said； 〃If your worship will give
me leave I will tell you a story of what happened in my village
about this matter of seats。〃
The moment Sancho said this Don Quixote trembled； making sure that
he was about to say something foolish。 Sancho glanced at him； and
guessing his thoughts； said； 〃Don't be afraid of my going astray；
senor； or saying anything that won't be pat to the purpose； I
haven't forgotten the advice your worship gave me just now about
talking much or little； well or ill。〃
〃I have no recollection of anything； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃say
what thou wilt； only say it quickly。〃
〃Well then；〃 said Sancho； 〃wh