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in spite of the lladres that seek his ruin！〃
The captains showed plainly the concern they felt； the regent's lady
was downcast； and the pilgrims did not at all enjoy seeing their
property confiscated。 Roque kept them in suspense in this way for a
while； but he had no desire to prolong their distress； which might
be seen a bowshot off； and turning to the captains he said； 〃Sirs；
will your worships be pleased of your courtesy to lend me sixty
crowns； and her ladyship the regent's wife eighty； to satisfy this
band that follows me； for 'it is by his singing the abbot gets his
dinner；' and then you may at once proceed on your journey； free and
unhindered； with a safe…conduct which I shall give you； so that if you
come across any other bands of mine that I have scattered in these
parts； they may do you no harm； for I have no intention of doing
injury to soldiers； or to any woman； especially one of quality。〃
Profuse and hearty were the expressions of gratitude with which
the captains thanked Roque for his courtesy and generosity； for such
they regarded his leaving them their own money。 Senora Dona Guiomar de
Quinones wanted to throw herself out of the coach to kiss the feet and
hands of the great Roque； but he would not suffer it on any account；
so far from that； he begged her pardon for the wrong he had done her
under pressure of the inexorable necessities of his unfortunate
calling。 The regent's lady ordered one of her servants to give the
eighty crowns that had been assessed as her share at once； for the
captains had already paid down their sixty。 The pilgrims were about to
give up the whole of their little hoard； but Roque bade them keep
quiet； and turning to his men he said； 〃Of these crowns two fall to
each man and twenty remain over； let ten be given to these pilgrims；
and the other ten to this worthy squire that he may be able to speak
favourably of this adventure；〃 and then having writing materials； with
which he always went provided； brought to him； he gave them in writing
a safe…conduct to the leaders of his bands； and bidding them
farewell let them go free and filled with admiration at his
magnanimity； his generous disposition； and his unusual conduct； and
inclined to regard him as an Alexander the Great rather than a
notorious robber。
One of the squires observed in his mixture of Gascon and Catalan；
〃This captain of ours would make a better friar than highwayman； if he
wants to be so generous another time； let it be with his own
property and not ours。〃
The unlucky wight did not speak so low but that Roque overheard him；
and drawing his sword almost split his head in two； saying； 〃That is
the way I punish impudent saucy fellows。〃 They were all taken aback；
and not one of them dared to utter a word； such deference did they pay
him。 Roque then withdrew to one side and wrote a letter to a friend of
his at Barcelona； telling him that the famous Don Quixote of La
Mancha； the knight…errant of whom there was so much talk； was with
him； and was； he assured him； the drollest and wisest man in the
world； and that in four days from that date； that is to say； on
Saint John the Baptist's Day； he was going to deposit him in full
armour mounted on his horse Rocinante； together with his squire Sancho
on an ass； in the middle of the strand of the city； and bidding him
give notice of this to his friends the Niarros； that they might divert
themselves with him。 He wished； he said； his enemies the Cadells could
be deprived of this pleasure； but that was impossible； because the
crazes and shrewd sayings of Don Quixote and the humours of his squire
Sancho Panza could not help giving general pleasure to all the
world。 He despatched the letter by one of his squires； who； exchanging
the costume of a highwayman for that of a peasant； made his way into
Barcelona and gave it to the person to whom it was directed。
CHAPTER LXI
OF WHAT HAPPENED DON QUIXOTE ON ENTERING BARCELONA； TOGETHER WITH
OTHER MATTERS THAT PARTAKE OF THE TRUE RATHER THAN OF THE INGENIOUS
DON QUIXOTE passed three days and three nights with Roque； and had
he passed three hundred years he would have found enough to observe
and wonder at in his mode of life。 At daybreak they were in one
spot； at dinner…time in another； sometimes they fled without knowing
from whom； at other times they lay in wait； not knowing for what。 They
slept standing； breaking their slumbers to shift from place to
place。 There was nothing but sending out spies and scouts； posting
sentinels and blowing the matches of harquebusses； though they carried
but few； for almost all used flintlocks。 Roque passed his nights in
some place or other apart from his men； that they might not know where
he was； for the many proclamations the viceroy of Barcelona had issued
against his life kept him in fear and uneasiness； and he did not
venture to trust anyone； afraid that even his own men would kill him
or deliver him up to the authorities； of a truth； a weary miserable
life！ At length； by unfrequented roads； short cuts； and secret
paths； Roque； Don Quixote； and Sancho； together with six squires；
set out for Barcelona。 They reached the strand on Saint John's Eve
during the night； and Roque； after embracing Don Quixote and Sancho
（to whom he presented the ten crowns he had promised but had not until
then given）； left them with many expressions of good…will on both
sides。
Roque went back； while Don Quixote remained on horseback； just as he
was； waiting for day； and it was not long before the countenance of
the fair Aurora began to show itself at the balconies of the east；
gladdening the grass and flowers； if not the ear； though to gladden
that too there came at the same moment a sound of clarions and
drums； and a din of bells； and a tramp； tramp； and cries of 〃Clear the
way there！〃 of some runners； that seemed to issue from the city。 The
dawn made way for the sun that with a face broader than a buckler
began to rise slowly above the low line of the horizon； Don Quixote
and Sancho gazed all round them； they beheld the sea； a sight until
then unseen by them； it struck them as exceedingly spacious and broad；
much more so than the lakes of Ruidera which they had seen in La
Mancha。 They saw the galleys along the beach； which； lowering their
awnings； displayed themselves decked with streamers and pennons that
trembled in the breeze and kissed and swept the water； while on
board the bugles； trumpets； and clarions were sounding and filling the
air far and near with melodious warlike notes。 Then they began to move
and execute a kind of skirmish upon the calm water； while a vast
number of horsemen on fine horses and in showy liveries； issuing
from the city； engaged on their side in a somewhat similar movement。
The soldiers on board the galleys kept up a ceaseless fire； which they
on the walls and forts of the city returned； and the heavy cannon rent
the air with the tremendous noise they made； to which the gangway guns
of the galleys replied。 The bright sea； the smiling earth； the clear
air …though at times darkened by the smoke of the guns… all seemed
to fill the whole multitude with unexpected delight。 Sancho could