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have got to then。〃
To this the duchess said； 〃Sancho； my friend； mind what you are
saying； it seems you could not have seen the earth； but only the men
walking on it； for if the earth looked to you like a grain of
mustard seed； and each man like a hazel nut； one man alone would
have covered the whole earth。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Sancho； 〃but for all that I got a glimpse of
a bit of one side of it； and saw it all。〃
〃Take care； Sancho；〃 said the duchess； 〃with a bit of one side one
does not see the whole of what one looks at。〃
〃I don't understand that way of looking at things；〃 said Sancho；
〃I only know that your ladyship will do well to bear in mind that as
we were flying by enchantment so I might have seen the whole earth and
all the men by enchantment whatever way I looked； and if you won't
believe this； no more will you believe that； uncovering myself
nearly to the eyebrows； I saw myself so close to the sky that there
was not a palm and a half between me and it； and by everything that
I can swear by； senora； it is mighty great！ And it so happened we came
by where the seven goats are； and by God and upon my soul； as in my
youth I was a goatherd in my own country； as soon as I saw them I felt
a longing to be among them for a little； and if I had not given way to
it I think I'd have burst。 So I come and take； and what do I do？
without saying anything to anybody； not even to my master； softly
and quietly I got down from Clavileno and amused myself with the
goats… which are like violets； like flowers… for nigh three…quarters
of an hour； and Clavileno never stirred or moved from one spot。〃
〃And while the good Sancho was amusing himself with the goats；〃 said
the duke； 〃how did Senor Don Quixote amuse himself？〃
To which Don Quixote replied； 〃As all these things and such like
occurrences are out of the ordinary course of nature； it is no
wonder that Sancho says what he does； for my own part I can only say
that I did not uncover my eyes either above or below； nor did I see
sky or earth or sea or shore。 It is true I felt that I was passing
through the region of the air； and even that I touched that of fire；
but that we passed farther I cannot believe； for the region of fire
being between the heaven of the moon and the last region of the air；
we could not have reached that heaven where the seven goats Sancho
speaks of are without being burned； and as we were not burned；
either Sancho is lying or Sancho is dreaming。〃
〃I am neither lying nor dreaming；〃 said Sancho； 〃only ask me the
tokens of those same goats； and you'll see by that whether I'm telling
the truth or not。〃
〃Tell us them then； Sancho；〃 said the duchess。
〃Two of them；〃 said Sancho； 〃are green； two blood…red； two blue； and
one a mixture of all colours。〃
〃An odd sort of goat； that；〃 said the duke； 〃in this earthly
region of ours we have no such colours； I mean goats of such colours。〃
〃That's very plain；〃 said Sancho； 〃of course there must be a
difference between the goats of heaven and the goats of the earth。〃
〃Tell me； Sancho；〃 said the duke； 〃did you see any he…goat among
those goats？〃
〃No； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃but I have heard say that none ever
passed the horns of the moon。〃
They did not care to ask him anything more about his journey； for
they saw he was in the vein to go rambling all over the heavens giving
an account of everything that went on there； without having ever
stirred from the garden。 Such； in short； was the end of the
adventure of the Distressed Duenna； which gave the duke and duchess
laughing matter not only for the time being； but for all their
lives； and Sancho something to talk about for ages； if he lived so
long； but Don Quixote； coming close to his ear； said to him；
〃Sancho； as you would have us believe what you saw in heaven； I
require you to believe me as to what I saw in the cave of
Montesinos； I say no more。〃
CHAPTER XLII
OF THE COUNSELS WHICH DON QUIXOTE GAVE SANCHO PANZA BEFORE HE SET
OUT TO GOVERN THE ISLAND； TOGETHER WITH OTHER WELL…CONSIDERED MATTERS
THE duke and duchess were so well pleased with the successful and
droll result of the adventure of the Distressed One； that they
resolved to carry on the joke； seeing what a fit subject they had to
deal with for making it all pass for reality。 So having laid their
plans and given instructions to their servants and vassals how to
behave to Sancho in his government of the promised island； the next
day； that following Clavileno's flight； the duke told Sancho to
prepare and get ready to go and be governor； for his islanders were
already looking out for him as for the showers of May。
Sancho made him an obeisance； and said； 〃Ever since I came down from
heaven； and from the top of it beheld the earth； and saw how little it
is； the great desire I had to be a governor has been partly cooled
in me； for what is there grand in being ruler on a grain of mustard
seed； or what dignity or authority in governing half a dozen men about
as big as hazel nuts； for； so far as I could see； there were no more
on the whole earth？ If your lordship would be so good as to give me
ever so small a bit of heaven； were it no more than half a league； I'd
rather have it than the best island in the world。〃
〃Recollect； Sancho；〃 said the duke； 〃I cannot give a bit of
heaven； no not so much as the breadth of my nail； to anyone； rewards
and favours of that sort are reserved for God alone。 What I can give I
give you； and that is a real； genuine island； compact； well
proportioned； and uncommonly fertile and fruitful； where； if you
know how to use your opportunities； you may； with the help of the
world's riches； gain those of heaven。〃
〃Well then；〃 said Sancho； 〃let the island come； and I'll try and
be such a governor； that in spite of scoundrels I'll go to heaven； and
it's not from any craving to quit my own humble condition or better
myself； but from the desire I have to try what it tastes like to be
a governor。〃
〃If you once make trial of it； Sancho；〃 said the duke； 〃you'll eat
your fingers off after the government； so sweet a thing is it to
command and be obeyed。 Depend upon it when your master comes to be
emperor （as he will beyond a doubt from the course his affairs are
taking）； it will be no easy matter to wrest the dignity from him；
and he will be sore and sorry at heart to have been so long without
becoming one。〃
〃Senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃it is my belief it's a good thing to be in
command； if it's only over a drove of cattle。〃
〃May I be buried with you； Sancho；〃 said the duke； 〃but you know
everything； I hope you will make as good a governor as your sagacity
promises； and that is all I have to say； and now remember to…morrow is
the day you must set out for the government of the island； and this
evening they will provide you with the proper attire for you to
wear； and all things requisite for your departure。〃
〃Let them dress me as they like；〃 said Sancho； 〃however I'm
dressed I'll be Sancho Panza。〃
〃That's true；〃 said the duke； 〃but one's dress must be suited to the
office or rank one holds； for it would not do for a jurist to dress
like a soldier； or a soldier like a pri