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While at supper Don Juan asked Don Quixote what news he had of the
lady Dulcinea del Toboso； was she married； had she been brought to
bed； or was she with child； or did she in maidenhood； still preserving
her modesty and delicacy； cherish the remembrance of the tender
passion of Senor Don Quixote？
To this he replied； 〃Dulcinea is a maiden still； and my passion more
firmly rooted than ever； our intercourse unsatisfactory as before； and
her beauty transformed into that of a foul country wench；〃 and then he
proceeded to give them a full and particular account of the
enchantment of Dulcinea； and of what had happened him in the cave of
Montesinos； together with what the sage Merlin had prescribed for
her disenchantment； namely the scourging of Sancho。
Exceedingly great was the amusement the two gentlemen derived from
hearing Don Quixote recount the strange incidents of his history；
and if they were amazed by his absurdities they were equally amazed by
the elegant style in which he delivered them。 On the one hand they
regarded him as a man of wit and sense； and on the other he seemed
to them a maundering blockhead； and they could not make up their minds
whereabouts between wisdom and folly they ought to place him。
Sancho having finished his supper； and left the landlord in the X
condition； repaired to the room where his master was； and as he came
in said； 〃May I die； sirs； if the author of this book your worships
have got has any mind that we should agree； as he calls me glutton
（according to what your worships say） I wish he may not call me
drunkard too。〃
〃But he does；〃 said Don Jeronimo； 〃I cannot remember； however； in
what way； though I know his words are offensive； and what is more；
lying； as I can see plainly by the physiognomy of the worthy Sancho
before me。〃
〃Believe me；〃 said Sancho； 〃the Sancho and the Don Quixote of this
history must be different persons from those that appear in the one
Cide Hamete Benengeli wrote； who are ourselves； my master valiant；
wise； and true in love； and I simple； droll； and neither glutton nor
drunkard。〃
〃I believe it；〃 said Don Juan； 〃and were it possible； an order
should be issued that no one should have the presumption to deal
with anything relating to Don Quixote； save his original author Cide
Hamete； just as Alexander commanded that no one should presume to
paint his portrait save Apelles。〃
〃Let him who will paint me；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but let him not
abuse me； for patience will often break down when they heap insults
upon it。〃
〃None can be offered to Senor Don Quixote；〃 said Don Juan； 〃that
he himself will not be able to avenge； if he does not ward it off with
the shield of his patience； which； I take it； is great and strong。〃
A considerable portion of the night passed in conversation of this
sort； and though Don Juan wished Don Quixote to read more of the
book to see what it was all about； he was not to be prevailed upon；
saying that he treated it as read and pronounced it utterly silly；
and； if by any chance it should come to its author's ears that he
had it in his hand； he did not want him to flatter himself with the
idea that he had read it； for our thoughts； and still more our eyes；
should keep themselves aloof from what is obscene and filthy。
They asked him whither he meant to direct his steps。 He replied；
to Saragossa； to take part in the harness jousts which were held in
that city every year。 Don Juan told him that the new history described
how Don Quixote； let him be who he might； took part there in a tilting
at the ring； utterly devoid of invention； poor in mottoes； very poor
in costume； though rich in sillinesses。
〃For that very reason；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I will not set foot in
Saragossa； and by that means I shall expose to the world the lie of
this new history writer； and people will see that I am not the Don
Quixote he speaks of。〃
〃You will do quite right；〃 said Don Jeronimo； 〃and there are other
jousts at Barcelona in which Senor Don Quixote may display his
prowess。〃
〃That is what I mean to do；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and as it is now
time； I pray your worships to give me leave to retire to bed； and to
place and retain me among the number of your greatest friends and
servants。〃
〃And me too；〃 said Sancho； 〃maybe I'll be good for something。〃
With this they exchanged farewells； and Don Quixote and Sancho
retired to their room； leaving Don Juan and Don Jeronimo amazed to see
the medley he made of his good sense and his craziness； and they
felt thoroughly convinced that these； and not those their Aragonese
author described； were the genuine Don Quixote and Sancho。 Don Quixote
rose betimes； and bade adieu to his hosts by knocking at the partition
of the other room。 Sancho paid the landlord magnificently； and
recommended him either to say less about the providing of his inn or
to keep it better provided。
CHAPTER LX
OF WHAT HAPPENED DON QUIXOTE ON HIS WAY TO BARCELONA
IT WAS a fresh morning giving promise of a cool day as Don Quixote
quitted the inn； first of all taking care to ascertain the most direct
road to Barcelona without touching upon Saragossa； so anxious was he
to make out this new historian； who they said abused him so； to be a
liar。 Well； as it fell out； nothing worthy of being recorded
happened him for six days； at the end of which； having turned aside
out of the road； he was overtaken by night in a thicket of oak or cork
trees； for on this point Cide Hamete is not as precise as he usually
is on other matters。
Master and man dismounted from their beasts； and as soon as they had
settled themselves at the foot of the trees； Sancho； who had had a
good noontide meal that day； let himself； without more ado； pass the
gates of sleep。 But Don Quixote； whom his thoughts； far more than
hunger； kept awake； could not close an eye； and roamed in fancy to and
fro through all sorts of places。 At one moment it seemed to him that
he was in the cave of Montesinos and saw Dulcinea； transformed into
a country wench； skipping and mounting upon her she…ass； again that
the words of the sage Merlin were sounding in his ears； setting
forth the conditions to be observed and the exertions to be made for
the disenchantment of Dulcinea。 He lost all patience when he
considered the laziness and want of charity of his squire Sancho；
for to the best of his belief he had only given himself five lashes； a
number paltry and disproportioned to the vast number required。 At this
thought he felt such vexation and anger that he reasoned the matter
thus： 〃If Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot； saying； 'To cut
comes to the same thing as to untie；' and yet did not fail to become
lord paramount of all Asia； neither more nor less could happen now
in Dulcinea's disenchantment if I scourge Sancho against his will；
for； if it is the condition of the remedy that Sancho shall receive
three thousand and odd lashes； what does it matter to me whether he
inflicts them himself； or some one else inflicts them； when the
essential point is that he receives them； let them come from
whatever quarter they may？〃
With this idea he went over to Sancho； having first taken