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The alcalde finally put it in legal form； and the declaration was made
with all the formalities required in such cases； at which Don
Quixote and Sancho were in high delight； as if a declaration of the
sort was of any great importance to them； and as if their words and
deeds did not plainly show the difference between the two Don Quixotes
and the two Sanchos。 Many civilities and offers of service were
exchanged by Don Alvaro and Don Quixote； in the course of which the
great Manchegan displayed such good taste that he disabused Don Alvaro
of the error he was under； and he； on his part； felt convinced he must
have been enchanted； now that he had been brought in contact with
two such opposite Don Quixotes。
Evening came； they set out from the village； and after about half
a league two roads branched off； one leading to Don Quixote's village；
the other the road Don Alvaro was to follow。 In this short interval
Don Quixote told him of his unfortunate defeat； and of Dulcinea's
enchantment and the remedy； all which threw Don Alvaro into fresh
amazement； and embracing Don Quixote and Sancho he went his way； and
Don Quixote went his。 That night he passed among trees again in
order to give Sancho an opportunity of working out his penance；
which he did in the same fashion as the night before； at the expense
of the bark of the beech trees much more than of his back； of which he
took such good care that the lashes would not have knocked off a fly
had there been one there。 The duped Don Quixote did not miss a
single stroke of the count； and he found that together with those of
the night before they made up three thousand and twenty…nine。 The
sun apparently had got up early to witness the sacrifice； and with his
light they resumed their journey； discussing the deception practised
on Don Alvaro； and saying how well done it was to have taken his
declaration before a magistrate in such an unimpeachable form。 That
day and night they travelled on； nor did anything worth mention happen
them； unless it was that in the course of the night Sancho finished
off his task； whereat Don Quixote was beyond measure joyful。 He
watched for daylight； to see if along the road he should fall in
with his already disenchanted lady Dulcinea； and as he pursued his
journey there was no woman he met that he did not go up to； to see
if she was Dulcinea del Toboso； as he held it absolutely certain
that Merlin's promises could not lie。 Full of these thoughts and
anxieties； they ascended a rising ground wherefrom they descried their
own village； at the sight of which Sancho fell on his knees
exclaiming； 〃Open thine eyes； longed…for home； and see how thy son
Sancho Panza comes back to thee； if not very rich； very well
whipped！ Open thine arms and receive； too； thy son Don Quixote； who；
if he comes vanquishe by the arm of another； comes victor over
himself； which； as he himself has told me； is the greatest victory
anyone can desire。 I'm bringing back money； for if I was well whipped；
I went mounted like a gentleman。〃
〃Have done with these fooleries；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃let us push
on straight and get to our own place； where we will give free range to
our fancies； and settle our plans for our future pastoral life。〃
With this they descended the slope and directed their steps to their
village。
CHAPTER LXXIII
OF THE OMENS DON QUIXOTE HAD AS HE ENTERED HIS OWN VILLAGE； AND
OTHER INCIDENTS THAT EMBELLISH AND GIVE A COLOUR TO THIS GREAT HISTORY
AT THE entrance of the village； so says Cide Hamete； Don Quixote saw
two boys quarrelling on the village threshing…floor one of whom said
to the other； 〃Take it easy； Periquillo； thou shalt never see it again
as long as thou livest。〃
Don Quixote heard this； and said he to Sancho； 〃Dost thou not
mark； friend； what that boy said； 'Thou shalt never see it again as
long as thou livest'？〃
〃Well；〃 said Sancho； 〃what does it matter if the boy said so？〃
〃What！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃dost thou not see that； applied to the
object of my desires； the words mean that I am never to see Dulcinea
more？〃
Sancho was about to answer； when his attention was diverted by
seeing a hare come flying across the plain pursued by several
greyhounds and sportsmen。 In its terror it ran to take shelter and
hide itself under Dapple。 Sancho caught it alive and presented it to
Don Quixote； who was saying； 〃Malum signum； malum signum！ a hare
flies； greyhounds chase it； Dulcinea appears not。〃
〃Your worship's a strange man；〃 said Sancho； 〃let's take it for
granted that this hare is Dulcinea； and these greyhounds chasing it
the malignant enchanters who turned her into a country wench； she
flies； and I catch her and put her into your worship's hands； and
you hold her in your arms and cherish her； what bad sign is that； or
what ill omen is there to be found here？〃
The two boys who had been quarrelling came over to look at the hare；
and Sancho asked one of them what their quarrel was about。 He was
answered by the one who had said； 〃Thou shalt never see it again as
long as thou livest；〃 that he had taken a cage full of crickets from
the other boy； and did not mean to give it back to him as long as he
lived。 Sancho took out four cuartos from his pocket and gave them to
the boy for the cage； which he placed in Don Quixote's hands；
saying； 〃There； senor！ there are the omens broken and destroyed； and
they have no more to do with our affairs； to my thinking； fool as I
am； than with last year's clouds； and if I remember rightly I have
heard the curate of our village say that it does not become Christians
or sensible people to give any heed to these silly things； and even
you yourself said the same to me some time ago； telling me that all
Christians who minded omens were fools； but there's no need of
making words about it； let us push on and go into our village。〃
The sportsmen came up and asked for their hare； which Don Quixote
gave them。 They then went on； and upon the green at the entrance of
the town they came upon the curate and the bachelor Samson Carrasco
busy with their breviaries。 It should be mentioned that Sancho had
thrown； by way of a sumpter…cloth； over Dapple and over the bundle
of armour； the buckram robe painted with flames which they had put
upon him at the duke's castle the night Altisidora came back to
life。 He had also fixed the mitre on Dapple's head； the oddest
transformation and decoration that ever ass in the world underwent。
They were at once recognised by both the curate and the bachelor；
who came towards them with open arms。 Don Quixote dismounted and
received them with a close embrace； and the boys； who are lynxes
that nothing escapes； spied out the ass's mitre and came running to
see it； calling out to one another； 〃Come here； boys； and see Sancho
Panza's ass figged out finer than Mingo； and Don Quixote's beast
leaner than ever。〃
So at length； with the boys capering round them； and accompanied
by the curate and the bachelor； they made their entrance into the
town； and proceeded to Don Quixote's house； at the door of which
they found his housekeeper and niece； whom the news of his arrival had
already reached。 It had been brough