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opportunity of questioning him at leisure about Don Quixote and his
doings。 The bachelor offered to write the letters in reply for Teresa；
but she did not care to let him mix himself up in her affairs； for she
thought him somewhat given to joking； and so she gave a cake and a
couple of eggs to a young acolyte who was a penman； and he wrote for
her two letters； one for her husband and the other for the duchess；
dictated out of her own head； which are not the worst inserted in this
great history； as will be seen farther on。
CHAPTER LI
OF THE PROGRESS OF SANCHO'S GOVERNMENT； AND OTHER SUCH
ENTERTAINING MATTERS
DAY came after the night of the governor's round； a night which
the head…carver passed without sleeping； so were his thoughts of the
face and air and beauty of the disguised damsel； while the majordomo
spent what was left of it in writing an account to his lord and lady
of all Sancho said and did； being as much amazed at his sayings as
at his doings； for there was a mixture of shrewdness and simplicity in
all his words and deeds。 The senor governor got up； and by Doctor
Pedro Recio's directions they made him break his fast on a little
conserve and four sups of cold water； which Sancho would have
readily exchanged for a piece of bread and a bunch of grapes； but
seeing there was no help for it； he submitted with no little sorrow of
heart and discomfort of stomach； Pedro Recio having persuaded him that
light and delicate diet enlivened the wits； and that was what was most
essential for persons placed in command and in responsible situations；
where they have to employ not only the bodily powers but those of
the mind also。
By means of this sophistry Sancho was made to endure hunger； and
hunger so keen that in his heart he cursed the government； and even
him who had given it to him； however； with his hunger and his conserve
he undertook to deliver judgments that day； and the first thing that
came before him was a question that was submitted to him by a
stranger； in the presence of the majordomo and the other attendants；
and it was in these words： 〃Senor； a large river separated two
districts of one and the same lordship… will your worship please to
pay attention； for the case is an important and a rather knotty one？
Well then； on this river there was a bridge； and at one end of it a
gallows； and a sort of tribunal； where four judges commonly sat to
administer the law which the lord of river； bridge and the lordship
had enacted； and which was to this effect； 'If anyone crosses by
this bridge from one side to the other he shall declare on oath
where he is going to and with what object； and if he swears truly；
he shall be allowed to pass； but if falsely； he shall be put to
death for it by hanging on the gallows erected there； without any
remission。' Though the law and its severe penalty were known； many
persons crossed； but in their declarations it was easy to see at
once they were telling the truth； and the judges let them pass free。
It happened； however； that one man； when they came to take his
declaration； swore and said that by the oath he took he was going to
die upon that gallows that stood there； and nothing else。 The judges
held a consultation over the oath； and they said； 'If we let this
man pass free he has sworn falsely； and by the law he ought to die；
but if we hang him； as he swore he was going to die on that gallows；
and therefore swore the truth； by the same law he ought to go free。'
It is asked of your worship； senor governor； what are the judges to do
with this man？ For they are still in doubt and perplexity； and
having heard of your worship's acute and exalted intellect； they
have sent me to entreat your worship on their behalf to give your
opinion on this very intricate and puzzling case。〃
To this Sancho made answer； 〃Indeed those gentlemen the judges
that send you to me might have spared themselves the trouble； for I
have more of the obtuse than the acute in me； but repeat the case over
again； so that I may understand it； and then perhaps I may be able
to hit the point。〃
The querist repeated again and again what he had said before； and
then Sancho said； 〃It seems to me I can set the matter right in a
moment； and in this way； the man swears that he is going to die upon
the gallows； but if he dies upon it； he has sworn the truth； and by
the law enacted deserves to go free and pass over the bridge； but if
they don't hang him； then he has sworn falsely； and by the same law
deserves to be hanged。〃
〃It is as the senor governor says；〃 said the messenger； 〃and as
regards a complete comprehension of the case； there is nothing left to
desire or hesitate about。〃
〃Well then I say；〃 said Sancho； 〃that of this man they should let
pass the part that has sworn truly； and hang the part that has lied；
and in this way the conditions of the passage will be fully complied
with。〃
〃But then； senor governor；〃 replied the querist； 〃the man will
have to be divided into two parts； and if he is divided of course he
will die； and so none of the requirements of the law will be carried
out； and it is absolutely necessary to comply with it。〃
〃Look here； my good sir；〃 said Sancho； 〃either I'm a numskull or
else there is the same reason for this passenger dying as for his
living and passing over the bridge； for if the truth saves him the
falsehood equally condemns him； and that being the case it is my
opinion you should say to the gentlemen who sent you to me that as the
arguments for condemning him and for absolving him are exactly
balanced； they should let him pass freely； as it is always more
praiseworthy to do good than to do evil； this I would give signed with
my name if I knew how to sign； and what I have said in this case is
not out of my own head； but one of the many precepts my master Don
Quixote gave me the night before I left to become governor of this
island； that came into my mind； and it was this； that when there was
any doubt about the justice of a case I should lean to mercy； and it
is God's will that I should recollect it now； for it fits this case as
if it was made for it。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the majordomo； 〃and I maintain that Lycurgus
himself； who gave laws to the Lacedemonians； could not have pronounced
a better decision than the great Panza has given； let the morning's
audience close with this； and I will see that the senor governor has
dinner entirely to his liking。〃
〃That's all I ask for… fair play；〃 said Sancho； 〃give me my
dinner； and then let it rain cases and questions on me； and I'll
despatch them in a twinkling。〃
The majordomo kept his word； for he felt it against his conscience
to kill so wise a governor by hunger； particularly as he intended to
have done with him that same night； playing off the last joke he was
commissioned to practise upon him。
It came to pass； then； that after he had dined that day； in
opposition to the rules and aphorisms of Doctor Tirteafuera； as they
were taking away the cloth there came a courier with a letter from Don
Quixote for the governor。 Sancho ordered the secretary to read it to
himself； and if there was nothing in it that demanded secrecy t