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heard； whereat he was taken aback and amazed； and raising his own
voice as much as he could； he cried out； 〃Who is below there？ Who is
that complaining？〃
〃Who should be here； or who should complain；〃 was the answer； 〃but
the forlorn Sancho Panza； for his sins and for his ill…luck governor
of the island of Barataria； squire that was to the famous knight Don
Quixote of La Mancha？〃
When Don Quixote heard this his amazement was redoubled and his
perturbation grew greater than ever； for it suggested itself to his
mind that Sancho must be dead； and that his soul was in torment down
there； and carried away by this idea he exclaimed； 〃I conjure thee
by everything that as a Catholic Christian I can conjure thee by； tell
me who thou art； and if thou art a soul in torment； tell me what
thou wouldst have me do for thee； for as my profession is to give
aid and succour to those that need it in this world； it will also
extend to aiding and succouring the distressed of the other； who
cannot help themselves。〃
〃In that case；〃 answered the voice； 〃your worship who speaks to me
must be my master Don Quixote of La Mancha； nay； from the tone of
the voice it is plain it can be nobody else。〃
〃Don Quixote I am；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃he whose profession it
is to aid and succour the living and the dead in their necessities；
wherefore tell me who thou art； for thou art keeping me in suspense；
because； if thou art my squire Sancho Panza； and art dead； since the
devils have not carried thee off； and thou art by God's mercy in
purgatory； our holy mother the Roman Catholic Church has
intercessory means sufficient to release thee from the pains thou
art in； and I for my part will plead with her to that end； so far as
my substance will go； without further delay； therefore； declare
thyself； and tell me who thou art。〃
〃By all that's good；〃 was the answer； 〃and by the birth of
whomsoever your worship chooses； I swear； Senor Don Quixote of La
Mancha； that I am your squire Sancho Panza； and that I have never died
all my life； but that； having given up my government for reasons
that would require more time to explain； I fell last night into this
pit where I am now； and Dapple is witness and won't let me lie； for
more by token he is here with me。〃
Nor was this all； one would have fancied the ass understood what
Sancho said； because that moment he began to bray so loudly that the
whole cave rang again。
〃Famous testimony！〃 exclaimed Don Quixote； 〃I know that bray as well
as if I was its mother； and thy voice too； my Sancho。 Wait while I
go to the duke's castle； which is close by； and I will bring some
one to take thee out of this pit into which thy sins no doubt have
brought thee。〃
〃Go； your worship；〃 said Sancho； 〃and come back quick for God's
sake； for I cannot bear being buried alive any longer； and I'm dying
of fear。〃
Don Quixote left him； and hastened to the castle to tell the duke
and duchess what had happened Sancho； and they were not a little
astonished at it； they could easily understand his having fallen； from
the confirmatory circumstance of the cave which had been in
existence there from time immemorial； but they could not imagine how
he had quitted the government without their receiving any intimation
of his coming。 To be brief； they fetched ropes and tackle； as the
saying is； and by dint of many hands and much labour they drew up
Dapple and Sancho Panza out of the darkness into the light of day。 A
student who saw him remarked； 〃That's the way all bad governors should
come out of their governments； as this sinner comes out of the
depths of the pit； dead with hunger； pale； and I suppose without a
farthing。〃
Sancho overheard him and said； 〃It is eight or ten days； brother
growler； since I entered upon the government of the island they gave
me； and all that time I never had a bellyful of victuals； no not for
an hour； doctors persecuted me and enemies crushed my bones； nor had I
any opportunity of taking bribes or levying taxes； and if that be
the case； as it is； I don't deserve； I think； to come out in this
fashion； but 'man proposes and God disposes；' and God knows what is
best； and what suits each one best； and 'as the occasion； so the
behaviour；' and 'let nobody say 〃I won't drink of this water；〃' and
'where one thinks there are flitches； there are no pegs；' God knows my
meaning and that's enough； I say no more； though I could。〃
〃Be not angry or annoyed at what thou hearest； Sancho；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃or there will never be an end of it； keep a safe
conscience and let them say what they like； for trying to stop
slanderers' tongues is like trying to put gates to the open plain。
If a governor comes out of his government rich； they say he has been a
thief； and if he comes out poor； that he has been a noodle and a
blockhead。〃
〃They'll be pretty sure this time；〃 said Sancho； 〃to set me down for
a fool rather than a thief。〃
Thus talking； and surrounded by boys and a crowd of people； they
reached the castle； where in one of the corridors the duke and duchess
stood waiting for them； but Sancho would not go up to see the duke
until he had first put up Dapple in the stable； for he said he had
passed a very bad night in his last quarters； then he went upstairs to
see his lord and lady； and kneeling before them he said； 〃Because it
was your highnesses' pleasure； not because of any desert of my own；
I went to govern your island of Barataria； which 'I entered naked； and
naked I find myself； I neither lose nor gain。' Whether I have governed
well or ill； I have had witnesses who will say what they think fit。
I have answered questions； I have decided causes； and always dying
of hunger； for Doctor Pedro Recio of Tirteafuera； the island and
governor doctor； would have it so。 Enemies attacked us by night and
put us in a great quandary； but the people of the island say they came
off safe and victorious by the might of my arm； and may God give
them as much health as there's truth in what they say。 In short；
during that time I have weighed the cares and responsibilities
governing brings with it； and by my reckoning I find my shoulders
can't bear them； nor are they a load for my loins or arrows for my
quiver； and so； before the government threw me over I preferred to
throw the government over； and yesterday morning I left the island
as I found it； with the same streets； houses； and roofs it had when
I entered it。 I asked no loan of anybody； nor did I try to fill my
pocket； and though I meant to make some useful laws； I made hardly
any； as I was afraid they would not be kept； for in that case it comes
to the same thing to make them or not to make them。 I quitted the
island； as I said； without any escort except my ass； I fell into a
pit； I pushed on through it； until this morning by the light of the
sun I saw an outlet； but not so easy a one but that； had not heaven
sent me my master Don Quixote； I'd have stayed there till the end of
the world。 So now my lord and lady duke and duchess； here is your
governor Sancho Panza； who in the bare ten days he has held the
government has come by the knowledge that he would not give anything
to be governor； n