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from thirst I have very likely； for I have nothing of the hypocrite in
me； I drink when I'm inclined； or； if I'm not inclined； when they
offer it to me； so as not to look either strait…laced or ill…bred； for
when a friend drinks one's health what heart can be so hard as not
to return it？ But if I put on my shoes I don't dirty them； besides；
squires to knights…errant mostly drink water； for they are always
wandering among woods； forests and meadows； mountains and crags；
without a drop of wine to be had if they gave their eyes for it。〃
〃So I believe；〃 said the duchess； 〃and now let Sancho go and take
his sleep； and we will talk by…and…by at greater length； and settle
how he may soon go and stick himself into the government； as he says。〃
Sancho once more kissed the duchess's hand； and entreated her to let
good care be taken of his Dapple； for he was the light of his eyes。
〃What is Dapple？〃 said the duchess。
〃My ass；〃 said Sancho； 〃which； not to mention him by that name；
I'm accustomed to call Dapple； I begged this lady duenna here to
take care of him when I came into the castle； and she got as angry
as if I had said she was ugly or old； though it ought to be more
natural and proper for duennas to feed asses than to ornament
chambers。 God bless me！ what a spite a gentleman of my village had
against these ladies！〃
〃He must have been some clown；〃 said Dona Rodriguez the duenna； 〃for
if he had been a gentleman and well…born he would have exalted them
higher than the horns of the moon。〃
〃That will do；〃 said the duchess； 〃no more of this； hush； Dona
Rodriguez； and let Senor Panza rest easy and leave the treatment of
Dapple in my charge； for as he is a treasure of Sancho's； I'll put him
on the apple of my eye。〃
〃It will be enough for him to he in the stable；〃 said Sancho； 〃for
neither he nor I are worthy to rest a moment in the apple of your
highness's eye； and I'd as soon stab myself as consent to it； for
though my master says that in civilities it is better to lose by a
card too many than a card too few； when it comes to civilities to
asses we must mind what we are about and keep within due bounds。〃
〃Take him to your government； Sancho；〃 said the duchess； 〃and
there you will be able to make as much of him as you like； and even
release him from work and pension him off。〃
〃Don't think； senora duchess； that you have said anything absurd；〃
said Sancho； 〃I have seen more than two asses go to governments； and
for me to take mine with me would he nothing new。〃
Sancho's words made the duchess laugh again and gave her fresh
amusement； and dismissing him to sleep she went away to tell the
duke the conversation she had had with him； and between them they
plotted and arranged to play a joke upon Don Quixote that was to be
a rare one and entirely in knight…errantry style； and in that same
style they practised several upon him； so much in keeping and so
clever that they form the best adventures this great history contains。
CHAPTER XXXIV
WHICH RELATES HOW THEY LEARNED THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WERE TO
DISENCHANT THE PEERLESS DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO； WHICH IS ONE OF THE
RAREST ADVENTURES IN THIS BOOK
GREAT was the pleasure the duke and duchess took in the conversation
of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza； and； more bent than ever upon the
plan they had of practising some jokes upon them that should have
the look and appearance of adventures； they took as their basis of
action what Don Quixote had already told them about the cave of
Montesinos； in order to play him a famous one。 But what the duches
marvelled at above all was that Sancho's simplicity could be so
great as to make him believe as absolute truth that Dulcinea had
been enchanted； when it was he himself who had been the enchanter
and trickster in the business。 Having； therefore； instructed their
servants in everything they were to do； six days afterwards they
took him out to hunt； with as great a retinue of huntsmen and
beaters as a crowned king。
They presented Don Quixote with a hunting suit； and Sancho with
another of the finest green cloth； but Don Quixote declined to put his
on； saying that he must soon return to the hard pursuit of arms； and
could not carry wardrobes or stores with him。 Sancho； however； took
what they gave him； meaning to sell it the first opportunity。
The appointed day having arrived； Don Quixote armed himself； and
Sancho arrayed himself； and mounted on his Dapple （for he would not
give him up though they offered him a horse）； he placed himself in the
midst of the troop of huntsmen。 The duchess came out splendidly
attired； and Don Quixote； in pure courtesy and politeness； held the
rein of her palfrey； though the duke wanted not to allow him； and at
last they reached a wood that lay between two high mountains； where；
after occupying various posts； ambushes； and paths； and distributing
the party in different positions； the hunt began with great noise；
shouting； and hallooing； so that； between the baying of the hounds and
the blowing of the horns； they could not hear one another。 The duchess
dismounted； and with a sharp boar…spear in her hand posted herself
where she knew the wild boars were in the habit of passing。 The duke
and Don Quixote likewise dismounted and placed themselves one at
each side of her。 Sancho took up a position in the rear of all without
dismounting from Dapple； whom he dared not desert lest some mischief
should befall him。 Scarcely had they taken their stand in a line
with several of their servants； when they saw a huge boar； closely
pressed by the hounds and followed by the huntsmen； making towards
them； grinding his teeth and tusks； and scattering foam from his
mouth。 As soon as he saw him Don Quixote； bracing his shield on his
arm； and drawing his sword； advanced to meet him； the duke with
boar…spear did the same； but the duchess would have gone in front of
them all had not the duke prevented her。 Sancho alone； deserting
Dapple at the sight of the mighty beast； took to his heels as hard
as he could and strove in vain to mount a tall oak。 As he was clinging
to a branch； however； half…way up in his struggle to reach the top；
the bough； such was his ill…luck and hard fate； gave way； and caught
in his fall by a broken limb of the oak； he hung suspended in the
air unable to reach the ground。 Finding himself in this position；
and that the green coat was beginning to tear； and reflecting that
if the fierce animal came that way he might be able to get at him；
he began to utter such cries； and call for help so earnestly； that all
who heard him and did not see him felt sure he must be in the teeth of
some wild beast。 In the end the tusked boar fell pierced by the blades
of the many spears they held in front of him； and Don Quixote； turning
round at the cries of Sancho； for he knew by them that it was he；
saw him hanging from the oak head downwards； with Dapple； who did
not forsake him in his distress； close beside him； and Cide Hamete
observes that he seldom saw Sancho Panza without seeing Dapple； or
Dapple without seeing Sancho Panza； such was their attachment and
loyalty one to the other。 Don Quixote went over and unhooked Sancho；