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a mess out of everything； yoked us together。 I paid her fairly； but
she not contented laid hold of me and never let go until she brought
me here； she says I forced her； but she lies by the oath I swear or am
ready to swear； and this is the whole truth and every particle of it。〃
The governor on this asked him if he had any money in silver about
him； he said he had about twenty ducats in a leather purse in his
bosom。 The governor bade him take it out and hand it to the
complainant； he obeyed trembling； the woman took it； and making a
thousand salaams to all and praying to God for the long life and
health of the senor governor who had such regard for distressed
orphans and virgins； she hurried out of court with the purse grasped
in both her hands； first looking； however； to see if the money it
contained was silver。
As soon as she was gone Sancho said to the cattle dealer； whose
tears were already starting and whose eyes and heart were following
his purse； 〃Good fellow； go after that woman and take the purse from
her； by force even； and come back with it here；〃 and he did not say it
to one who was a fool or deaf； for the man was off like a flash of
lightning； and ran to do as he was bid。
All the bystanders waited anxiously to see the end of the case；
and presently both man and woman came back at even closer grips than
before； she with her petticoat up and the purse in the lap of it；
and he struggling hard to take it from her； but all to no purpose；
so stout was the woman's defence； she all the while crying out；
〃Justice from God and the world！ see here； senor governor； the
shamelessness and boldness of this villain； who in the middle of the
town； in the middle of the street； wanted to take from me the purse
your worship bade him give me。〃
〃And did he take it？〃 asked the governor。
〃Take it！〃 said the woman； 〃I'd let my life be taken from me
sooner than the purse。 A pretty child I'd be！ It's another sort of cat
they must throw in my face； and not that poor scurvy knave。 Pincers
and hammers； mallets and chisels would not get it out of my grip；
no； nor lions' claws； the soul from out of my body first！〃
〃She is right；〃 said the man； 〃I own myself beaten and powerless；
I confess I haven't the strength to take it from her；〃 and he let go
his hold of her。
Upon this the governor said to the woman； 〃Let me see that purse； my
worthy and sturdy friend。〃 She handed it to him at once； and the
governor returned it to the man； and said to the unforced mistress
of force； 〃Sister； if you had shown as much； or only half as much；
spirit and vigour in defending your body as you have shown in
defending that purse； the strength of Hercules could not have forced
you。 Be off； and God speed you； and bad luck to you； and don't show
your face in all this island； or within six leagues of it on any side；
under pain of two hundred lashes； be off at once； I say； you
shameless； cheating shrew。〃
The woman was cowed and went off disconsolately； hanging her head；
and the governor said to the man； 〃Honest man； go home with your
money； and God speed you； and for the future； if you don't want to
lose it； see that you don't take it into your head to yoke with
anybody。〃 The man thanked him as clumsily as he could and went his
way； and the bystanders were again filled with admiration at their new
governor's judgments and sentences。
Next； two men； one apparently a farm labourer； and the other a
tailor； for he had a pair of shears in his hand； presented
themselves before him； and the tailor said； 〃Senor governor； this
labourer and I come before your worship by reason of this honest man
coming to my shop yesterday （for saving everybody's presence I'm a
passed tailor； God be thanked）； and putting a piece of cloth into my
hands and asking me； 'Senor； will there be enough in this cloth to
make me a cap？' Measuring the cloth I said there would。 He probably
suspected… as I supposed； and I supposed right… that I wanted to steal
some of the cloth； led to think so by his own roguery and the bad
opinion people have of tailors； and he told me to see if there would
he enough for two。 I guessed what he would be at； and I said 'yes。'
He； still following up his original unworthy notion； went on adding
cap after cap； and I 'yes' after 'yes；' until we got as far as five。
He has just this moment come for them； I gave them to him； but he
won't pay me for the making； on the contrary； he calls upon me to
pay him； or else return his cloth。〃
〃Is all this true； brother？〃 said Sancho。
〃Yes；〃 replied the man； 〃but will your worship make him show the
five caps he has made me？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said the tailor； and drawing his hand from
under his cloak he showed five caps stuck upon the five fingers of it；
and said； 〃there are the caps this good man asks for； and by God and
upon my conscience I haven't a scrap of cloth left； and I'll let the
work be examined by the inspectors of the trade。〃
All present laughed at the number of caps and the novelty of the
suit； Sancho set himself to think for a moment； and then said； 〃It
seems to me that in this case it is not necessary to deliver
long…winded arguments； but only to give off…hand the judgment of an
honest man； and so my decision is that the tailor lose the making
and the labourer the cloth； and that the caps go to the prisoners in
the gaol； and let there be no more about it。〃
If the previous decision about the cattle dealer's purse excited the
admiration of the bystanders； this provoked their laughter； however；
the governor's orders were after all executed。 All this； having been
taken down by his chronicler； was at once despatched to the duke；
who was looking out for it with great eagerness； and here let us leave
the good Sancho； for his master； sorely troubled in mind by
Altisidora's music； has pressing claims upon us now。
CHAPTER XLVI
OF THE TERRIBLE BELL AND CAT FRIGHT THAT DON QUIXOTE GOT IN THE
COURSE OF THE ENAMOURED ALTISIDORA'S WOOING
WE left Don Quixote wrapped up in the reflections which the music of
the enamourned maid Altisidora had given rise to。 He went to bed
with them； and just like fleas they would not let him sleep or get a
moment's rest； and the broken stitches of his stockings helped them。
But as Time is fleet and no obstacle can stay his course； he came
riding on the hours； and morning very soon arrived。 Seeing which Don
Quixote quitted the soft down； and； nowise slothful； dressed himself
in his chamois suit and put on his travelling boots to hide the
disaster to his stockings。 He threw over him his scarlet mantle； put
on his head a montera of green velvet trimmed with silver edging；
flung across his shoulder the baldric with his good trenchant sword；
took up a large rosary that he always carried with him； and with great
solemnity and precision of gait proceeded to the antechamber where the
duke and duchess were already dressed and waiting for him。 But as he
passed through a gallery； Altisidora and the other damsel； her friend；
were lying in wait for him； and the instant Altisidora saw him she
pretended to faint； while her friend caught her in her lap； and
began hastily unlacing the