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sifting a little barley for his horse； and Sanchica cutting a rasher
of bacon to be paved with eggs for his dinner。 His looks and his
handsome apparel pleased them both greatly； and after they had saluted
him courteously； and he them； Samson begged him to give them his news；
as well of Don Quixote as of Sancho Panza； for； he said； though they
had read the letters from Sancho and her ladyship the duchess； they
were still puzzled and could not make out what was meant by Sancho's
government； and above all of an island； when all or most of those in
the Mediterranean belonged to his Majesty。
To this the page replied； 〃As to Senor Sancho Panza's being a
governor there is no doubt whatever； but whether it is an island or
not that he governs； with that I have nothing to do； suffice it that
it is a town of more than a thousand inhabitants； with regard to the
acorns I may tell you my lady the duchess is so unpretending and
unassuming that； not to speak of sending to beg for acorns from a
peasant woman； she has been known to send to ask for the loan of a
comb from one of her neighbours； for I would have your worships know
that the ladies of Aragon； though they are just as illustrious； are
not so punctilious and haughty as the Castilian ladies； they treat
people with greater familiarity。〃
In the middle of this conversation Sanchica came in with her skirt
full of eggs； and said she to the page； 〃Tell me； senor； does my
father wear trunk…hose since he has been governor？〃
〃I have not noticed；〃 said the page； 〃but no doubt he wears them。〃
〃Ah！ my God！〃 said Sanchica； 〃what a sight it must be to see my
father in tights！ Isn't it odd that ever since I was born I have had a
longing to see my father in trunk…hose？〃
〃As things go you will see that if you live；〃 said the page； 〃by God
he is in the way to take the road with a sunshade if the government
only lasts him two months more。〃
The curate and the bachelor could see plainly enough that the page
spoke in a waggish vein； but the fineness of the coral beads； and
the hunting suit that Sancho sent （for Teresa had already shown it
to them） did away with the impression； and they could not help
laughing at Sanchica's wish； and still more when Teresa said； 〃Senor
curate； look about if there's anybody here going to Madrid or
Toledo； to buy me a hooped petticoat； a proper fashionable one of
the best quality； for indeed and indeed I must do honour to my
husband's government as well as I can； nay； if I am put to it and have
to； I'll go to Court and set a coach like all the world； for she who
has a governor for her husband may very well have one and keep one。〃
〃And why not； mother！〃 said Sanchica； 〃would to God it were to…day
instead of to…morrow； even though they were to say when they saw me
seated in the coach with my mother； 'See that rubbish； that
garlic…stuffed fellow's daughter； how she goes stretched at her ease
in a coach as if she was a she…pope！' But let them tramp through the
mud； and let me go in my coach with my feet off the ground。 Bad luck
to backbiters all over the world； 'let me go warm and the people may
laugh。' Do I say right； mother？〃
〃To be sure you do； my child；〃 said Teresa； 〃and all this good luck；
and even more； my good Sancho foretold me； and thou wilt see； my
daughter； he won't stop till he has made me a countess； for to make
a beginning is everything in luck； and as I have heard thy good father
say many a time （for besides being thy father he's the father of
proverbs too）； 'When they offer thee a heifer； run with a halter； when
they offer thee a government； take it； when they would give thee a
county； seize it； when they say； 〃Here； here！〃 to thee with
something good； swallow it。' Oh no！ go to sleep； and don't answer
the strokes of good fortune and the lucky chances that are knocking at
the door of your house！〃
〃And what do I care；〃 added Sanchica； 〃whether anybody says when
he sees me holding my head up； 'The dog saw himself in hempen
breeches；' and the rest of it？〃
Hearing this the curate said； 〃I do believe that all this family
of the Panzas are born with a sackful of proverbs in their insides；
every one of them； I never saw one of them that does not pour them out
at all times and on all occasions。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the page； 〃for Senor Governor Sancho utters
them at every turn； and though a great many of them are not to the
purpose； still they amuse one； and my lady the duchess and the duke
praise them highly。〃
〃Then you still maintain that all this about Sancho's government
is true； senor；〃 said the bachelor； 〃and that there actually is a
duchess who sends him presents and writes to him？ Because we； although
we have handled the present and read the letters； don't believe it and
suspect it to be something in the line of our fellow…townsman Don
Quixote； who fancies that everything is done by enchantment； and for
this reason I am almost ready to say that I'd like to touch and feel
your worship to see whether you are a mere ambassador of the
imagination or a man of flesh and blood。〃
〃All I know； sirs；〃 replied the page； 〃is that I am a real
ambassador； and that Senor Sancho Panza is governor as a matter of
fact； and that my lord and lady the duke and duchess can give； and
have given him this same government； and that I have heard the said
Sancho Panza bears himself very stoutly therein； whether there be
any enchantment in all this or not； it is for your worships to settle
between you； for that's all I know by the oath I swear； and that is by
the life of my parents whom I have still alive； and love dearly。〃
〃It may be so；〃 said the bachelor； 〃but dubitat Augustinus。〃
〃Doubt who will；〃 said the page； 〃what I have told you is the truth；
and that will always rise above falsehood as oil above water； if not
operibus credite； et non verbis。 Let one of you come with me； and he
will see with his eyes what he does not believe with his ears。〃
〃It's for me to make that trip；〃 said Sanchica； 〃take me with you；
senor； behind you on your horse； for I'll go with all my heart to
see my father。〃
〃Governors' daughters；〃 said the page； 〃must not travel along the
roads alone； but accompanied by coaches and litters and a great number
of attendants。〃
〃By God；〃 said Sanchica； 〃I can go just as well mounted on a she…ass
as in a coach； what a dainty lass you must take me for！〃
〃Hush； girl；〃 said Teresa； 〃you don't know what you're talking
about； the gentleman is quite right； for 'as the time so the
behaviour；' when it was Sancho it was 'Sancha；' when it is governor
it's 'senora；' I don't know if I'm right。〃
〃Senora Teresa says more than she is aware of；〃 said the page；
〃and now give me something to eat and let me go at once； for I mean to
return this evening。〃
〃Come and do penance with me；〃 said the curate at this； 〃for
Senora Teresa has more will than means to serve so worthy a guest。〃
The page refused； but had to consent at last for his own sake； and
the curate took him home with him very gladly； in order to have an
opportunity of questioning him at leisure about Don Quixote and his
doings。 The bachelor offered to write the letters in reply for Ter