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air …though at times darkened by the smoke of the guns… all seemed
to fill the whole multitude with unexpected delight。 Sancho could
not make out how it was that those great masses that moved over the
sea had so many feet。
And now the horsemen in livery came galloping up with shouts and
outlandish cries and cheers to where Don Quixote stood amazed and
wondering； and one of them； he to whom Roque had sent word； addressing
him exclaimed； 〃Welcome to our city； mirror； beacon； star and cynosure
of all knight…errantry in its widest extent！ Welcome； I say； valiant
Don Quixote of La Mancha； not the false； the fictitious； the
apocryphal； that these latter days have offered us in lying histories；
but the true； the legitimate； the real one that Cide Hamete Benengeli；
flower of historians； has described to us！〃
Don Quixote made no answer； nor did the horsemen wait for one； but
wheeling again with all their followers； they began curvetting round
Don Quixote； who； turning to Sancho； said； 〃These gentlemen have
plainly recognised us； I will wager they have read our history； and
even that newly printed one by the Aragonese。〃
The cavalier who had addressed Don Quixote again approached him
and said； 〃Come with us； Senor Don Quixote； for we are all of us
your servants and great friends of Roque Guinart's；〃 to which Don
Quixote returned； 〃If courtesy breeds courtesy； yours； sir knight；
is daughter or very nearly akin to the great Roque's； carry me where
you please； I will have no will but yours； especially if you deign
to employ it in your service。〃
The cavalier replied with words no less polite； and then； all
closing in around him； they set out with him for the city； to the
music of the clarions and the drums。 As they were entering it； the
wicked one； who is the author of all mischief； and the boys who are
wickeder than the wicked one； contrived that a couple of these
audacious irrepressible urchins should force their way through the
crowd； and lifting up； one of them Dapple's tail and the other
Rocinante's； insert a bunch of furze under each。 The poor beasts
felt the strange spurs and added to their anguish by pressing their
tails tight； so much so that； cutting a multitude of capers； they
flung their masters to the ground。 Don Quixote； covered with shame and
out of countenance； ran to pluck the plume from his poor jade's
tail； while Sancho did the same for Dapple。 His conductors tried to
punish the audacity of the boys； but there was no possibility of doing
so； for they hid themselves among the hundreds of others that were
following them。 Don Quixote and Sancho mounted once more； and with the
same music and acclamations reached their conductor's house； which was
large and stately； that of a rich gentleman； in short； and there for
the present we will leave them； for such is Cide Hamete's pleasure。
CHAPTER LXII
WHICH DEALS WITH THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED HEAD； TOGETHER
WITH OTHER TRIVIAL MATTERS WHICH CANNOT BE LEFT UNTOLD
DON QUIXOTE'S host was one Don Antonio Moreno by name； a gentleman
of wealth and intelligence； and very fond of diverting himself in
any fair and good…natured way； and having Don Quixote in his house
he set about devising modes of making him exhibit his mad points in
some harmless fashion； for jests that give pain are no jests； and no
sport is worth anything if it hurts another。 The first thing he did
was to make Don Quixote take off his armour； and lead him； in that
tight chamois suit we have already described and depicted more than
once； out on a balcony overhanging one of the chief streets of the
city； in full view of the crowd and of the boys； who gazed at him as
they would at a monkey。 The cavaliers in livery careered before him
again as though it were for him alone； and not to enliven the festival
of the day； that they wore it； and Sancho was in high delight； for
it seemed to him that； how he knew not； he had fallen upon another
Camacho's wedding； another house like Don Diego de Miranda's；
another castle like the duke's。 Some of Don Antonio's friends dined
with him that day； and all showed honour to Don Quixote and treated
him as a knight…errant； and he becoming puffed up and exalted in
consequence could not contain himself for satisfaction。 Such were
the drolleries of Sancho that all the servants of the house； and all
who heard him； were kept hanging upon his lips。 While at table Don
Antonio said to him； 〃We hear； worthy Sancho； that you are so fond
of manjar blanco and forced…meat balls； that if you have any left； you
keep them in your bosom for the next day。〃
〃No； senor； that's not true；〃 said Sancho； 〃for I am more cleanly
than greedy； and my master Don Quixote here knows well that we two are
used to live for a week on a handful of acorns or nuts。 To be sure； if
it so happens that they offer me a heifer； I run with a halter； I
mean； I eat what I'm given； and make use of opportunities as I find
them； but whoever says that I'm an out…of…the…way eater or not
cleanly； let me tell him that he is wrong； and I'd put it in a
different way if I did not respect the honourable beards that are at
the table。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃Sancho's moderation and cleanliness
in eating might be inscribed and graved on plates of brass； to be kept
in eternal remembrance in ages to come。 It is true that when he is
hungry there is a certain appearance of voracity about him； for he
eats at a great pace and chews with both jaws； but cleanliness he is
always mindful of； and when he was governor he learned how to eat
daintily； so much so that he eats grapes； and even pomegranate pips；
with a fork。〃
〃What！〃 said Don Antonio； 〃has Sancho been a governor？〃
〃Ay；〃 said Sancho； 〃and of an island called Barataria。 I governed it
to perfection for ten days； and lost my rest all the time； and learned
to look down upon all the governments in the world； I got out of it by
taking to flight； and fell into a pit where I gave myself up for dead；
and out of which I escaped alive by a miracle。〃
Don Quixote then gave them a minute account of the whole affair of
Sancho's government； with which he greatly amused his hearers。
On the cloth being removed Don Antonio； taking Don Quixote by the
hand； passed with him into a distant room in which there was nothing
in the way of furniture except a table； apparently of jasper；
resting on a pedestal of the same； upon which was set up； after the
fashion of the busts of the Roman emperors； a head which seemed to
be of bronze。 Don Antonio traversed the whole apartment with Don
Quixote and walked round the table several times； and then said； 〃Now；
Senor Don Quixote； that I am satisfied that no one is listening to us；
and that the door is shut； I will tell you of one of the rarest
adventures； or more properly speaking strange things； that can be
imagined； on condition that you will keep what I say to you in the
remotest recesses of secrecy。〃
〃I swear it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and for greater security I will put
a flag…stone over it； for I would have you know； Senor Don Antonio〃
（he had by this time learned his name）； 〃that you are addressing one
who； though he has ears to hear； has n