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that she has given any occasion； or even the semblance of one； for
disparagement of her purity and modesty； on the contrary； such and
so great is the vigilance with which she watches over her honour； that
of all those that court and woo her not one has boasted； or can with
truth boast； that she has given him any hope however small of
obtaining his desire。 For although she does not avoid or shun the
society and conversation of the shepherds； and treats them courteously
and kindly； should any one of them come to declare his intention to
her； though it be one as proper and holy as that of matrimony； she
flings him from her like a catapult。 And with this kind of disposition
she does more harm in this country than if the plague had got into it；
for her affability and her beauty draw on the hearts of those that
associate with her to love her and to court her； but her scorn and her
frankness bring them to the brink of despair； and so they know not
what to say save to proclaim her aloud cruel and hard…hearted； and
other names of the same sort which well describe the nature of her
character； and if you should remain here any time； senor； you would
hear these hills and valleys resounding with the laments of the
rejected ones who pursue her。 Not far from this there is a spot
where there are a couple of dozen of tall beeches； and there is not
one of them but has carved and written on its smooth bark the name
of Marcela； and above some a crown carved on the same tree as though
her lover would say more plainly that Marcela wore and deserved that
of all human beauty。 Here one shepherd is sighing； there another is
lamenting； there love songs are heard； here despairing elegies。 One
will pass all the hours of the night seated at the foot of some oak or
rock； and there； without having closed his weeping eyes； the sun finds
him in the morning bemused and bereft of sense； and another without
relief or respite to his sighs； stretched on the burning sand in the
full heat of the sultry summer noontide； makes his appeal to the
compassionate heavens； and over one and the other； over these and all；
the beautiful Marcela triumphs free and careless。 And all of us that
know her are waiting to see what her pride will come to； and who is to
be the happy man that will succeed in taming a nature so formidable
and gaining possession of a beauty so supreme。 All that I have told
you being such well…established truth； I am persuaded that what they
say of the cause of Chrysostom's death； as our lad told us； is the
same。 And so I advise you； senor； fail not to be present to…morrow
at his burial； which will be well worth seeing； for Chrysostom had
many friends； and it is not half a league from this place to where
he directed he should be buried。〃
〃I will make a point of it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and I thank you
for the pleasure you have given me by relating so interesting a tale。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the goatherd； 〃I do not know even the half of what has
happened to the lovers of Marcela； but perhaps to…morrow we may fall
in with some shepherd on the road who can tell us； and now it will
be well for you to go and sleep under cover； for the night air may
hurt your wound； though with the remedy I have applied to you there is
no fear of an untoward result。〃
Sancho Panza； who was wishing the goatherd's loquacity at the devil；
on his part begged his master to go into Pedro's hut to sleep。 He
did so； and passed all the rest of the night in thinking of his lady
Dulcinea； in imitation of the lovers of Marcela。 Sancho Panza
settled himself between Rocinante and his ass； and slept； not like a
lover who had been discarded； but like a man who had been soundly
kicked。
CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH IS ENDED THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERDESS MARCELA； WITH OTHER
INCIDENTS
BUT hardly had day begun to show itself through the balconies of the
east； when five of the six goatherds came to rouse Don Quixote and
tell him that if he was still of a mind to go and see the famous
burial of Chrysostom they would bear him company。 Don Quixote； who
desired nothing better； rose and ordered Sancho to saddle and pannel
at once； which he did with all despatch； and with the same they all
set out forthwith。 They had not gone a quarter of a league when at the
meeting of two paths they saw coming towards them some six shepherds
dressed in black sheepskins and with their heads crowned with garlands
of cypress and bitter oleander。 Each of them carried a stout holly
staff in his hand； and along with them there came two men of quality
on horseback in handsome travelling dress； with three servants on foot
accompanying them。 Courteous salutations were exchanged on meeting；
and inquiring one of the other which way each party was going； they
learned that all were bound for the scene of the burial； so they
went on all together。
One of those on horseback addressing his companion said to him；
〃It seems to me； Senor Vivaldo； that we may reckon as well spent the
delay we shall incur in seeing this remarkable funeral； for remarkable
it cannot but be judging by the strange things these shepherds have
told us； of both the dead shepherd and homicide shepherdess。〃
〃So I think too；〃 replied Vivaldo； 〃and I would delay not to say a
day； but four； for the sake of seeing it。〃
Don Quixote asked them what it was they had heard of Marcela and
Chrysostom。 The traveller answered that the same morning they had
met these shepherds； and seeing them dressed in this mournful
fashion they had asked them the reason of their appearing in such a
guise； which one of them gave； describing the strange behaviour and
beauty of a shepherdess called Marcela； and the loves of many who
courted her； together with the death of that Chrysostom to whose
burial they were going。 In short； he repeated all that Pedro had
related to Don Quixote。
This conversation dropped； and another was commenced by him who
was called Vivaldo asking Don Quixote what was the reason that led him
to go armed in that fashion in a country so peaceful。 To which Don
Quixote replied； 〃The pursuit of my calling does not allow or permit
me to go in any other fashion； easy life； enjoyment； and repose were
invented for soft courtiers； but toil； unrest； and arms were
invented and made for those alone whom the world calls knights…errant；
of whom I； though unworthy； am the least of all。〃
The instant they heard this all set him down as mad； and the
better to settle the point and discover what kind of madness his
was； Vivaldo proceeded to ask him what knights…errant meant。
〃Have not your worships；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃read the annals
and histories of England； in which are recorded the famous deeds of
King Arthur； whom we in our popular Castilian invariably call King
Artus； with regard to whom it is an ancient tradition； and commonly
received all over that kingdom of Great Britain； that this king did
not die； but was changed by magic art into a raven； and that in
process of time he is to return to reign and recover his kingdom and
sceptre； for which reason it cannot be proved that from that time to
this any Englishman ever killed a raven？ Well； then； in the time of
this good king