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fro； the image or images of what she loves will not shift to and fro
in her thoughts； this is the truth； this is my opinion； and this is my
advice。〃
〃And mine；〃 added Sancho； 〃for I never in all my life saw a
lace…maker that died for love； when damsels are at work their minds
are more set on finishing their tasks than on thinking of their loves。
I speak from my own experience； for when I'm digging I never think
of my old woman； I mean my Teresa Panza； whom I love better than my
own eyelids。〃 〃You say well； Sancho；〃 said the duchess； 〃and I will
take care that my Altisidora employs herself henceforward in
needlework of some sort； for she is extremely expert at it。〃 〃There is
no occasion to have recourse to that remedy； senora；〃 said Altisidora；
〃for the mere thought of the cruelty with which this vagabond
villain has treated me will suffice to blot him out of my memory
without any other device； with your highness's leave I will retire；
not to have before my eyes； I won't say his rueful countenance； but
his abominable； ugly looks。〃 〃That reminds me of the common saying；
that 'he that rails is ready to forgive；'〃 said the duke。
Altisidora then； pretending to wipe away her tears with a
handkerchief； made an obeisance to her master and mistress and quitted
the room。
〃Ill luck betide thee； poor damsel；〃 said Sancho； 〃ill luck betide
thee！ Thou hast fallen in with a soul as dry as a rush and a heart
as hard as oak； had it been me； i'faith 'another cock would have
crowed to thee。'〃
So the conversation came to an end； and Don Quixote dressed
himself and dined with the duke and duchess； and set out the same
evening。
CHAPTER LXXI
OF WHAT PASSED BETWEEN DON QUIXOTE AND HIS SQUIRE SANCHO ON THE
WAY TO THEIR VILLAGE
THE vanquished and afflicted Don Quixote went along very downcast in
one respect and very happy in another。 His sadness arose from his
defeat； and his satisfaction from the thought of the virtue that lay
in Sancho； as had been proved by the resurrection of Altisidora；
though it was with difficulty he could persuade himself that the
love…smitten damsel had been really dead。 Sancho went along anything
but cheerful； for it grieved him that Altisidora had not kept her
promise of giving him the smocks； and turning this over in his mind he
said to his master； 〃Surely； senor； I'm the most unlucky doctor in the
world； there's many a physician that； after killing the sick man he
had to cure； requires to be paid for his work； though it is only
signing a bit of a list of medicines； that the apothecary and not he
makes up； and； there； his labour is over； but with me though to cure
somebody else costs me drops of blood； smacks； pinches；
pinproddings； and whippings； nobody gives me a farthing。 Well； I swear
by all that's good if they put another patient into my hands；
they'll have to grease them for me before I cure him； for； as they
say； 'it's by his singing the abbot gets his dinner；' and I'm not
going to believe that heaven has bestowed upon me the virtue I have；
that I should be dealing it out to others all for nothing。〃
〃Thou art right； Sancho my friend；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and
Altisidora has behaved very badly in not giving thee the smocks she
promised； and although that virtue of thine is gratis data… as it
has cost thee no study whatever； any more than such study as thy
personal sufferings may be… I can say for myself that if thou
wouldst have payment for the lashes on account of the disenchant of
Dulcinea； I would have given it to thee freely ere this。 I am not
sure； however； whether payment will comport with the cure； and I would
not have the reward interfere with the medicine。 I think there will be
nothing lost by trying it； consider how much thou wouldst have；
Sancho； and whip thyself at once； and pay thyself down with thine
own hand； as thou hast money of mine。〃
At this proposal Sancho opened his eyes and his ears a palm's
breadth wide； and in his heart very readily acquiesced in whipping
himself； and said he to his master； 〃Very well then； senor； I'll
hold myself in readiness to gratify your worship's wishes if I'm to
profit by it； for the love of my wife and children forces me to seem
grasping。 Let your worship say how much you will pay me for each
lash I give myself。〃
〃If Sancho；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃I were to requite thee as the
importance and nature of the cure deserves； the treasures of Venice；
the mines of Potosi； would be insufficient to pay thee。 See what
thou hast of mine； and put a price on each lash。〃
〃Of them；〃 said Sancho； 〃there are three thousand three hundred
and odd； of these I have given myself five； the rest remain； let the
five go for the odd ones； and let us take the three thousand three
hundred； which at a quarter real apiece （for I will not take less
though the whole world should bid me） make three thousand three
hundred quarter reals； the three thousand are one thousand five
hundred half reals； which make seven hundred and fifty reals； and
the three hundred make a hundred and fifty half reals； which come to
seventy…five reals； which added to the seven hundred and fifty make
eight hundred and twenty…five reals in all。 These I will stop out of
what I have belonging to your worship； and I'll return home rich and
content； though well whipped； for 'there's no taking trout'… but I say
no more。〃
〃O blessed Sancho！ O dear Sancho！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃how we shall
be bound to serve thee； Dulcinea and I； all the days of our lives that
heaven may grant us！ If she returns to her lost shape （and it cannot
be but that she will） her misfortune will have been good fortune；
and my defeat a most happy triumph。 But look here； Sancho； when wilt
thou begin the scourging？ For if thou wilt make short work of it； I
will give thee a hundred reals over and above。〃
〃When？〃 said Sancho； 〃this night without fail。 Let your worship
order it so that we pass it out of doors and in the open air； and I'll
scarify myself。〃
Night； longed for by Don Quixote with the greatest anxiety in the
world； came at last； though it seemed to him that the wheels of
Apollo's car had broken down； and that the day was drawing itself
out longer than usual； just as is the case with lovers； who never make
the reckoning of their desires agree with time。 They made their way at
length in among some pleasant trees that stood a little distance
from the road； and there vacating Rocinante's saddle and Dapple's
pack…saddle； they stretched themselves on the green grass and made
their supper off Sancho's stores； and he making a powerful and
flexible whip out of Dapple's halter and headstall retreated about
twenty paces from his master among some beech trees。 Don Quixote
seeing him march off with such resolution and spirit； said to him；
〃Take care； my friend； not to cut thyself to pieces； allow the
lashes to wait for one another； and do not be in so great a hurry as
to run thyself out of breath midway； I mean； do not lay on so
strenuously as to make thy life fail thee before thou hast reached the
desired number； and that thou mayest not lose by a card too much or
too little； I will station myself apart and count on my rosary her