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this any Englishman ever killed a raven？ Well； then； in the time of
this good king that famous order of chivalry of the Knights of the
Round Table was instituted； and the amour of Don Lancelot of the
Lake with the Queen Guinevere occurred； precisely as is there related；
the go…between and confidante therein being the highly honourable dame
Quintanona； whence came that ballad so well known and widely spread in
our Spain…
O never surely was there knight
So served by hand of dame；
As served was he Sir Lancelot hight
When he from Britain came…
with all the sweet and delectable course of his achievements in love
and war。 Handed down from that time； then； this order of chivalry went
on extending and spreading itself over many and various parts of the
world； and in it； famous and renowned for their deeds； were the mighty
Amadis of Gaul with all his sons and descendants to the fifth
generation； and the valiant Felixmarte of Hircania； and the never
sufficiently praised Tirante el Blanco； and in our own days almost
we have seen and heard and talked with the invincible knight Don
Belianis of Greece。 This； then； sirs； is to be a knight…errant； and
what I have spoken of is the order of his chivalry； of which； as I
have already said； I； though a sinner； have made profession； and
what the aforesaid knights professed that same do I profess； and so
I go through these solitudes and wilds seeking adventures； resolved in
soul to oppose my arm and person to the most perilous that fortune may
offer me in aid of the weak and needy。〃
By these words of his the travellers were able to satisfy themselves
of Don Quixote's being out of his senses and of the form of madness
that overmastered him； at which they felt the same astonishment that
all felt on first becoming acquainted with it； and Vivaldo； who was
a person of great shrewdness and of a lively temperament； in order
to beguile the short journey which they said was required to reach the
mountain； the scene of the burial； sought to give him an opportunity
of going on with his absurdities。 So he said to him； 〃It seems to
me； Senor Knight…errant； that your worship has made choice of one of
the most austere professions in the world； and I imagine even that
of the Carthusian monks is not so austere。〃
〃As austere it may perhaps be；〃 replied our Don Quixote； 〃but so
necessary for the world I am very much inclined to doubt。 For； if
the truth is to be told； the soldier who executes what his captain
orders does no less than the captain himself who gives the order。 My
meaning； is； that churchmen in peace and quiet pray to Heaven for
the welfare of the world； but we soldiers and knights carry into
effect what they pray for； defending it with the might of our arms and
the edge of our swords； not under shelter but in the open air； a
target for the intolerable rays of the sun in summer and the
piercing frosts of winter。 Thus are we God's ministers on earth and
the arms by which his justice is done therein。 And as the business
of war and all that relates and belongs to it cannot be conducted
without exceeding great sweat； toil； and exertion； it follows that
those who make it their profession have undoubtedly more labour than
those who in tranquil peace and quiet are engaged in praying to God to
help the weak。 I do not mean to say； nor does it enter into my
thoughts； that the knight…errant's calling is as good as that of the
monk in his cell； I would merely infer from what I endure myself
that it is beyond a doubt a more laborious and a more belaboured
one； a hungrier and thirstier； a wretcheder； raggeder； and lousier；
for there is no reason to doubt that the knights…errant of yore
endured much hardship in the course of their lives。 And if some of
them by the might of their arms did rise to be emperors； in faith it
cost them dear in the matter of blood and sweat； and if those who
attained to that rank had not had magicians and sages to help them
they would have been completely baulked in their ambition and
disappointed in their hopes。〃
〃That is my own opinion；〃 replied the traveller； 〃but one thing
among many others seems to me very wrong in knights…errant； and that
is that when they find themselves about to engage in some mighty and
perilous adventure in which there is manifest danger of losing their
lives； they never at the moment of engaging in it think of
commending themselves to God； as is the duty of every good Christian
in like peril； instead of which they commend themselves to their
ladies with as much devotion as if these were their gods； a thing
which seems to me to savour somewhat of heathenism。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃that cannot be on any account omitted；
and the knight…errant would be disgraced who acted otherwise： for it
is usual and customary in knight…errantry that the knight…errant；
who on engaging in any great feat of arms has his lady before him；
should turn his eyes towards her softly and lovingly； as though with
them entreating her to favour and protect him in the hazardous venture
he is about to undertake； and even though no one hear him； he is bound
to say certain words between his teeth； commending himself to her with
all his heart； and of this we have innumerable instances in the
histories。 Nor is it to be supposed from this that they are to omit
commending themselves to God； for there will be time and opportunity
for doing so while they are engaged in their task。〃
〃For all that；〃 answered the traveller； 〃I feel some doubt still；
because often I have read how words will arise between two
knights…errant； and from one thing to another it comes about that
their anger kindles and they wheel their horses round and take a
good stretch of field； and then without any more ado at the top of
their speed they come to the charge； and in mid…career they are wont
to commend themselves to their ladies； and what commonly comes of
the encounter is that one falls over the haunches of his horse pierced
through and through by his antagonist's lance； and as for the other；
it is only by holding on to the mane of his horse that he can help
falling to the ground； but I know not how the dead man had time to
commend himself to God in the course of such rapid work as this； it
would have been better if those words which he spent in commending
himself to his lady in the midst of his career had been devoted to his
duty and obligation as a Christian。 Moreover； it is my belief that all
knights…errant have not ladies to commend themselves to； for they
are not all in love。〃
〃That is impossible；〃 said Don Quixote： 〃I say it is impossible that
there could be a knight…errant without a lady； because to such it is
as natural and proper to be in love as to the heavens to have stars：
most certainly no history has been seen in which there is to be
found a knight…errant without an amour； and for the simple reason that
without one he would be held no legitimate knight but a bastard； and
one who had gained entrance into the stronghold of the said
knighthood； not by the door； but over the wall like a thief and a
robber。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 said the traveller； 〃if I remember rig