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that will never come to pass if your worship gives up becoming a
king by renouncing the calling of chivalry； and so my hopes are
going to turn into smoke。〃
〃Peace； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃thou seest my suspension and
retirement is not to exceed a year； I shall soon return to my honoured
calling； and I shall not be at a loss for a kingdom to win and a
county to bestow on thee。〃
〃May God hear it and sin be deaf；〃 said Sancho； 〃I have always heard
say that 'a good hope is better than a bad holding。〃
As they were talking Don Antonio came in looking extremely pleased
and exclaiming； 〃Reward me for my good news； Senor Don Quixote！ Don
Gregorio and the renegade who went for him have come ashore… ashore do
I say？ They are by this time in the viceroy's house； and will be
here immediately。〃
Don Quixote cheered up a little and said； 〃Of a truth I am almost
ready to say I should have been glad had it turned out just the
other way； for it would have obliged me to cross over to Barbary；
where by the might of my arm I should have restored to liberty； not
only Don Gregorio； but all the Christian captives there are in
Barbary。 But what am I saying； miserable being that I am？ Am I not
he that has been conquered？ Am I not he that has been overthrown？ Am I
not he who must not take up arms for a year？ Then what am I making
professions for； what am I bragging about； when it is fitter for me to
handle the distaff than the sword？〃
〃No more of that； senor；〃 said Sancho； 〃'let the hen live； even
though it be with her pip； 'today for thee and to…morrow for me；' in
these affairs of encounters and whacks one must not mind them； for
he that falls to…day may get up to…morrow； unless indeed he chooses to
lie in bed； I mean gives way to weakness and does not pluck up fresh
spirit for fresh battles； let your worship get up now to receive Don
Gregorio； for the household seems to be in a bustle； and no doubt he
has come by this time；〃 and so it proved； for as soon as Don
Gregorio and the renegade had given the viceroy an account of the
voyage out and home； Don Gregorio； eager to see Ana Felix； came with
the renegade to Don Antonio's house。 When they carried him away from
Algiers he was in woman's dress； on board the vessel； however； he
exchanged it for that of a captive who escaped with him； but in
whatever dress he might be he looked like one to be loved and served
and esteemed； for he was surpassingly well…favoured； and to judge by
appearances some seventeen or eighteen years of age。 Ricote and his
daughter came out to welcome him； the father with tears； the
daughter with bashfulness。 They did not embrace each other； for
where there is deep love there will never be overmuch boldness。 Seen
side by side； the comeliness of Don Gregorio and the beauty of Ana
Felix were the admiration of all who were present。 It was silence that
spoke for the lovers at that moment； and their eyes were the tongues
that declared their pure and happy feelings。 The renegade explained
the measures and means he had adopted to rescue Don Gregorio； and
Don Gregorio at no great length； but in a few words； in which he
showed that his intelligence was in advance of his years； described
the peril and embarrassment he found himself in among the women with
whom he had sojourned。 To conclude； Ricote liberally recompensed and
rewarded as well the renegade as the men who had rowed； and the
renegade effected his readmission into the body of the Church and
was reconciled with it； and from a rotten limb became by penance and
repentance a clean and sound one。
Two days later the viceroy discussed with Don Antonio the steps they
should take to enable Ana Felix and her father to stay in Spain； for
it seemed to them there could be no objection to a daughter who was so
good a Christian and a father to all appearance so well disposed
remaining there。 Don Antonio offered to arrange the matter at the
capital； whither he was compelled to go on some other business；
hinting that many a difficult affair was settled there with the help
of favour and bribes。
〃Nay；〃 said Ricote； who was present during the conversation； 〃it
will not do to rely upon favour or bribes； because with the great
Don Bernardino de Velasco； Conde de Salazar； to whom his Majesty has
entrusted our expulsion； neither entreaties nor promises； bribes nor
appeals to compassion； are of any use； for though it is true he
mingles mercy with justice； still； seeing that the whole body of our
nation is tainted and corrupt； he applies to it the cautery that burns
rather than the salve that soothes； and thus； by prudence； sagacity；
care and the fear he inspires； he has borne on his mighty shoulders
the weight of this great policy and carried it into effect； all our
schemes and plots； importunities and wiles； being ineffectual to blind
his Argus eyes； ever on the watch lest one of us should remain
behind in concealment； and like a hidden root come in course of time
to sprout and bear poisonous fruit in Spain； now cleansed； and
relieved of the fear in which our vast numbers kept it。 Heroic resolve
of the great Philip the Third； and unparalleled wisdom to have
entrusted it to the said Don Bernardino de Velasco！〃
〃At any rate；〃 said Don Antonio； 〃when I am there I will make all
possible efforts； and let heaven do as pleases it best； Don Gregorio
will come with me to relieve the anxiety which his parents must be
suffering on account of his absence； Ana Felix will remain in my house
with my wife； or in a monastery； and I know the viceroy will be glad
that the worthy Ricote should stay with him until we see what terms
I can make。〃
The viceroy agreed to all that was proposed； but Don Gregorio on
learning what had passed declared he could not and would not on any
account leave Ana Felix； however； as it was his purpose to go and
see his parents and devise some way of returning for her； he fell in
with the proposed arrangement。 Ana Felix remained with Don Antonio's
wife； and Ricote in the viceroy's house。
The day for Don Antonio's departure came； and two days later that
for Don Quixote's and Sancho's； for Don Quixote's fall did not
suffer him to take the road sooner。 There were tears and sighs；
swoonings and sobs； at the parting between Don Gregorio and Ana Felix。
Ricote offered Don Gregorio a thousand crowns if he would have them；
but he would not take any save five which Don Antonio lent him and
he promised to repay at the capital。 So the two of them took their
departure； and Don Quixote and Sancho afterwards； as has been
already said； Don Quixote without his armour and in travelling gear；
and Sancho on foot； Dapple being loaded with the armour。
CHAPTER LXVI
WHICH TREATS OF WHAT HE WHO READS WILL SEE； OR WHAT HE WHO HAS IT
READ TO HIM WILL HEAR
AS HE left Barcelona； Don Quixote turned gaze upon the spot where he
had fallen。 〃Here Troy was；〃 said he； 〃here my ill…luck； not my
cowardice； robbed me of all the glory I had won； here Fortune made
me the victim of her caprices； here the lustre of my achievements
was dimmed； here； in a word； fell my happiness never to rise again。〃
〃Senor；〃 said Sancho on hearing this； 〃it is the p