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CHAPTER XVI
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN IN THE INN WHICH HE TOOK
TO BE A CASTLE
THE innkeeper； seeing Don Quixote slung across the ass； asked Sancho
what was amiss with him。 Sancho answered that it was nothing； only
that he had fallen down from a rock and had his ribs a little bruised。
The innkeeper had a wife whose disposition was not such as those of
her calling commonly have； for she was by nature kind…hearted and felt
for the sufferings of her neighbours； so she at once set about tending
Don Quixote； and made her young daughter； a very comely girl； help her
in taking care of her guest。 There was besides in the inn； as servant；
an Asturian lass with a broad face； flat poll； and snub nose； blind of
one eye and not very sound in the other。 The elegance of her shape； to
be sure； made up for all her defects； she did not measure seven
palms from head to foot； and her shoulders； which overweighted her
somewhat； made her contemplate the ground more than she liked。 This
graceful lass； then； helped the young girl； and the two made up a very
bad bed for Don Quixote in a garret that showed evident signs of
having formerly served for many years as a straw…loft； in which
there was also quartered a carrier whose bed was placed a little
beyond our Don Quixote's； and； though only made of the pack…saddles
and cloths of his mules； had much the advantage of it； as Don
Quixote's consisted simply of four rough boards on two not very even
trestles； a mattress； that for thinness might have passed for a quilt；
full of pellets which； were they not seen through the rents to be
wool； would to the touch have seemed pebbles in hardness； two sheets
made of buckler leather； and a coverlet the threads of which anyone
that chose might have counted without missing one in the reckoning。
On this accursed bed Don Quixote stretched himself； and the
hostess and her daughter soon covered him with plasters from top to
toe； while Maritornes… for that was the name of the Asturian… held the
light for them； and while plastering him； the hostess； observing how
full of wheals Don Quixote was in some places； remarked that this
had more the look of blows than of a fall。
It was not blows； Sancho said； but that the rock had many points and
projections； and that each of them had left its mark。 〃Pray；
senora；〃 he added； 〃manage to save some tow； as there will be no
want of some one to use it； for my loins too are rather sore。〃
〃Then you must have fallen too；〃 said the hostess。
〃I did not fall；〃 said Sancho Panza； 〃but from the shock I got at
seeing my master fall； my body aches so that I feel as if I had had
a thousand thwacks。〃
〃That may well be；〃 said the young girl； 〃for it has many a time
happened to me to dream that I was falling down from a tower and never
coming to the ground； and when I awoke from the dream to find myself
as weak and shaken as if I had really fallen。〃
〃There is the point； senora；〃 replied Sancho Panza； 〃that I
without dreaming at all； but being more awake than I am now； find
myself with scarcely less wheals than my master； Don Quixote。〃
〃How is the gentleman called？〃 asked Maritornes the Asturian。
〃Don Quixote of La Mancha；〃 answered Sancho Panza； 〃and he is a
knight…adventurer； and one of the best and stoutest that have been
seen in the world this long time past。〃
〃What is a knight…adventurer？〃 said the lass。
〃Are you so new in the world as not to know？〃 answered Sancho Panza。
〃Well； then； you must know； sister； that a knight…adventurer is a
thing that in two words is seen drubbed and emperor； that is to…day
the most miserable and needy being in the world； and to…morrow will
have two or three crowns of kingdoms to give his squire。〃
〃Then how is it；〃 said the hostess； 〃that belonging to so good a
master as this； you have not； to judge by appearances； even so much as
a county？〃
〃It is too soon yet；〃 answered Sancho； 〃for we have only been a
month going in quest of adventures； and so far we have met with
nothing that can be called one； for it will happen that when one thing
is looked for another thing is found； however； if my master Don
Quixote gets well of this wound； or fall； and I am left none the worse
of it； I would not change my hopes for the best title in Spain。〃
To all this conversation Don Quixote was listening very attentively；
and sitting up in bed as well as he could； and taking the hostess by
the hand he said to her； 〃Believe me； fair lady； you may call yourself
fortunate in having in this castle of yours sheltered my person； which
is such that if I do not myself praise it； it is because of what is
commonly said； that self…praise debaseth； but my squire will inform
you who I am。 I only tell you that I shall preserve for ever inscribed
on my memory the service you have rendered me in order to tender you
my gratitude while life shall last me； and would to Heaven love held
me not so enthralled and subject to its laws and to the eyes of that
fair ingrate whom I name between my teeth； but that those of this
lovely damsel might be the masters of my liberty。〃
The hostess； her daughter； and the worthy Maritornes listened in
bewilderment to the words of the knight…errant； for they understood
about as much of them as if he had been talking Greek； though they
could perceive they were all meant for expressions of good…will and
blandishments； and not being accustomed to this kind of language； they
stared at him and wondered to themselves； for he seemed to them a
man of a different sort from those they were used to； and thanking him
in pothouse phrase for his civility they left him； while the
Asturian gave her attention to Sancho； who needed it no less than
his master。
The carrier had made an arrangement with her for recreation that
night； and she had given him her word that when the guests were
quiet and the family asleep she would come in search of him and meet
his wishes unreservedly。 And it is said of this good lass that she
never made promises of the kind without fulfilling them； even though
she made them in a forest and without any witness present； for she
plumed herself greatly on being a lady and held it no disgrace to be
in such an employment as servant in an inn； because； she said；
misfortunes and ill…luck had brought her to that position。 The hard；
narrow； wretched； rickety bed of Don Quixote stood first in the middle
of this star…lit stable； and close beside it Sancho made his； which
merely consisted of a rush mat and a blanket that looked as if it
was of threadbare canvas rather than of wool。 Next to these two beds
was that of the carrier； made up； as has been said； of the
pack…saddles and all the trappings of the two best mules he had；
though there were twelve of them； sleek； plump； and in prime
condition； for he was one of the rich carriers of Arevalo； according
to the author of this history； who particularly mentions this
carrier because he knew him very well； and they even say was in some
degree a relation of his； besides which Cide Hamete Benengeli was a
historian of great research and accuracy in all things； as is very
evident since he would not pass over in silence those tha