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make ourselves small； or rather they pack us up and make us small in
spite of us； and then… good night to us。 And I say once more； if
your ladyship does not like to give me the island because I'm a
fool； like a wise man I will take care to give myself no trouble about
it； I have heard say that 'behind the cross there's the devil；' and
that 'all that glitters is not gold；' and that from among the oxen；
and the ploughs； and the yokes； Wamba the husbandman was taken to be
made King of Spain； and from among brocades； and pleasures； and
riches； Roderick was taken to be devoured by adders； if the verses
of the old ballads don't lie。〃
〃To be sure they don't lie！〃 exclaimed Dona Rodriguez； the duenna；
who was one of the listeners。 〃Why； there's a ballad that says they
put King Rodrigo alive into a tomb full of toads； and adders； and
lizards； and that two days afterwards the king； in a plaintive； feeble
voice； cried out from within the tomb…
They gnaw me now； they gnaw me now；
There where I most did sin。
And according to that the gentleman has good reason to say he would
rather be a labouring man than a king； if vermin are to eat him。〃
The duchess could not help laughing at the simplicity of her duenna；
or wondering at the language and proverbs of Sancho； to whom she said；
〃Worthy Sancho knows very well that when once a knight has made a
promise he strives to keep it； though it should cost him his life。
My lord and husband the duke； though not one of the errant sort； is
none the less a knight for that reason； and will keep his word about
the promised island； in spite of the envy and malice of the world。 Let
Sancho he of good cheer； for when he least expects it he will find
himself seated on the throne of his island and seat of dignity； and
will take possession of his government that he may discard it for
another of three…bordered brocade。 The charge I give him is to be
careful how he governs his vassals； bearing in mind that they are
all loyal and well…born。〃
〃As to governing them well；〃 said Sancho； 〃there's no need of
charging me to do that； for I'm kind…hearted by nature； and full of
compassion for the poor； there's no stealing the loaf from him who
kneads and bakes；' and by my faith it won't do to throw false dice
with me； I am an old dog； and I know all about 'tus； tus；' I can be
wide…awake if need be； and I don't let clouds come before my eyes； for
I know where the shoe pinches me； I say so； because with me the good
will have support and protection； and the bad neither footing nor
access。 And it seems to me that； in governments； to make a beginning
is everything； and maybe； after having been governor a fortnight； I'll
take kindly to the work and know more about it than the field labour I
have been brought up to。〃
〃You are right； Sancho；〃 said the duchess； 〃for no one is born ready
taught； and the bishops are made out of men and not out of stones。 But
to return to the subject we were discussing just now； the
enchantment of the lady Dulcinea； I look upon it as certain； and
something more than evident； that Sancho's idea of practising a
deception upon his master； making him believe that the peasant girl
was Dulcinea and that if he did not recognise her it must be because
she was enchanted； was all a device of one of the enchanters that
persecute Don Quixote。 For in truth and earnest； I know from good
authority that the coarse country wench who jumped up on the ass was
and is Dulcinea del Toboso； and that worthy Sancho； though he
fancies himself the deceiver； is the one that is deceived； and that
there is no more reason to doubt the truth of this； than of anything
else we never saw。 Senor Sancho Panza must know that we too have
enchanters here that are well disposed to us； and tell us what goes on
in the world； plainly and distinctly； without subterfuge or deception；
and believe me； Sancho； that agile country lass was and is Dulcinea
del Toboso； who is as much enchanted as the mother that bore her；
and when we least expect it； we shall see her in her own proper
form； and then Sancho will he disabused of the error he is under at
present。〃
〃All that's very possible；〃 said Sancho Panza； 〃and now I'm
willing to believe what my master says about what he saw in the cave
of Montesinos； where he says he saw the lady Dulcinea del Toboso in
the very same dress and apparel that I said I had seen her in when I
enchanted her all to please myself。 It must be all exactly the other
way； as your ladyship says； because it is impossible to suppose that
out of my poor wit such a cunning trick could be concocted in a
moment； nor do I think my master is so mad that by my weak and
feeble persuasion he could be made to believe a thing so out of all
reason。 But； senora； your excellence must not therefore think me
ill…disposed； for a dolt like me is not bound to see into the thoughts
and plots of those vile enchanters。 I invented all that to escape my
master's scolding； and not with any intention of hurting him； and if
it has turned out differently； there is a God in heaven who judges our
hearts。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the duchess； 〃but tell me； Sancho； what is this
you say about the cave of Montesinos； for I should like to know。〃
Sancho upon this related to her； word for word； what has been said
already touching that adventure； and having heard it the duchess said；
〃From this occurrence it may be inferred that； as the great Don
Quixote says he saw there the same country wench Sancho saw on the way
from El Toboso； it is； no doubt； Dulcinea； and that there are some
very active and exceedingly busy enchanters about。〃
〃So I say；〃 said Sancho； 〃and if my lady Dulcinea is enchanted； so
much the worse for her； and I'm not going to pick a quarrel with my
master's enemies； who seem to be many and spiteful。 The truth is
that the one I saw was a country wench； and I set her down to be a
country wench； and if that was Dulcinea it must not be laid at my
door； nor should I be called to answer for it or take the
consequences。 But they must go nagging at me at every step… 'Sancho
said it； Sancho did it； Sancho here； Sancho there；' as if Sancho was
nobody at all； and not that same Sancho Panza that's now going all
over the world in books； so Samson Carrasco told me； and he's at any
rate one that's a bachelor of Salamanca； and people of that sort can't
lie； except when the whim seizes them or they have some very good
reason for it。 So there's no occasion for anybody to quarrel with
me； and then I have a good character； and； as I have heard my master
say； 'a good name is better than great riches；' let them only stick me
into this government and they'll see wonders； for one who has been a
good squire will be a good governor。〃
〃All worthy Sancho's observations；〃 said the duchess； 〃are
Catonian sentences； or at any rate out of the very heart of Michael
Verino himself； who florentibus occidit annis。 In fact； to speak in
his own style； 'under a bad cloak there's often a good drinker。'〃
〃Indeed； senora；〃 said Sancho； 〃I never yet drank out of wickedness；
from thirst I have very likely； for I have nothing of the hypocrite in
me； I drink when