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they found his housekeeper and niece； whom the news of his arrival had
already reached。 It had been brought to Teresa Panza； Sancho's wife；
as well； and she with her hair all loose and half naked； dragging
Sanchica her daughter by the hand； ran out to meet her husband； but
seeing him coming in by no means as good case as she thought a
governor ought to be； she said to him； 〃How is it you come this way；
husband？ It seems to me you come tramping and footsore； and looking
more like a disorderly vagabond than a governor。〃
〃Hold your tongue； Teresa；〃 said Sancho； 〃often 'where there are
pegs there are no flitches；' let's go into the house and there
you'll hear strange things。 I bring money； and that's the main
thing； got by my own industry without wronging anybody。〃
〃You bring the money； my good husband；〃 said Teresa； 〃and no
matter whether it was got this way or that； for； however you may
have got it； you'll not have brought any new practice into the world。〃
Sanchica embraced her father and asked him if he brought her
anything； for she had been looking out for him as for the showers of
May； and she taking hold of him by the girdle on one side； and his
wife by the hand； while the daughter led Dapple； they made for their
house； leaving Don Quixote in his； in the hands of his niece and
housekeeper； and in the company of the curate and the bachelor。
Don Quixote at once； without any regard to time or season；
withdrew in private with the bachelor and the curate； and in a few
words told them of his defeat； and of the engagement he was under
not to quit his village for a year； which he meant to keep to the
letter without departing a hair's breadth from it； as became a
knight…errant bound by scrupulous good faith and the laws of
knight…errantry； and of how he thought of turning shepherd for that
year； and taking his diversion in the solitude of the fields； where he
could with perfect freedom give range to his thoughts of love while he
followed the virtuous pastoral calling； and he besought them； if
they had not a great deal to do and were not prevented by more
important business； to consent to be his companions； for he would
buy sheep enough to qualify them for shepherds； and the most important
point of the whole affair； he could tell them； was settled； for he had
given them names that would fit them to a T。 The curate asked what
they were。 Don Quixote replied that he himself was to be called the
shepherd Quixotize and the bachelor the shepherd Carrascon； and the
curate the shepherd Curambro； and Sancho Panza the shepherd Pancino。
Both were astounded at Don Quixote's new craze； however； lest he
should once more make off out of the village from them in pursuit of
his chivalry； they trusting that in the course of the year he might be
cured； fell in with his new project； applauded his crazy idea as a
bright one； and offered to share the life with him。 〃And what's more；〃
said Samson Carrasco； 〃I am； as all the world knows； a very famous
poet； and I'll be always making verses； pastoral； or courtly； or as it
may come into my head； to pass away our time in those secluded regions
where we shall be roaming。 But what is most needful； sirs； is that
each of us should choose the name of the shepherdess he means to
glorify in his verses； and that we should not leave a tree； be it ever
so hard； without writing up and carving her name on it； as is the
habit and custom of love…smitten shepherds。〃
〃That's the very thing；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃though I am relieved
from looking for the name of an imaginary shepherdess； for there's the
peerless Dulcinea del Toboso； the glory of these brooksides； the
ornament of these meadows； the mainstay of beauty； the cream of all
the graces； and； in a word； the being to whom all praise is
appropriate； be it ever so hyperbolical。〃
〃Very true；〃 said the curate； 〃but we the others must look about for
accommodating shepherdesses that will answer our purpose one way or
another。〃
〃And；〃 added Samson Carrasco； 〃if they fail us； we can call them
by the names of the ones in print that the world is filled with；
Filidas； Amarilises； Dianas； Fleridas； Galateas； Belisardas； for as
they sell them in the market…places we may fairly buy them and make
them our own。 If my lady； or I should say my shepherdess； happens to
be called Ana； I'll sing her praises under the name of Anarda； and
if Francisca； I'll call her Francenia； and if Lucia； Lucinda； for it
all comes to the same thing； and Sancho Panza； if he joins this
fraternity； may glorify his wife Teresa Panza as Teresaina。〃
Don Quixote laughed at the adaptation of the name； and the curate
bestowed vast praise upon the worthy and honourable resolution he
had made； and again offered to bear him company all the time that he
could spare from his imperative duties。 And so they took their leave
of him； recommending and beseeching him to take care of his health and
treat himself to a suitable diet。
It so happened his niece and the housekeeper overheard all the three
of them said； and as soon as they were gone they both of them came
in to Don Quixote； and said the niece； 〃What's this； uncle？ Now that
we were thinking you had come back to stay at home and lead a quiet
respectable life there； are you going to get into fresh entanglements；
and turn 'young shepherd； thou that comest here； young shepherd
going there？' Nay！ indeed 'the straw is too hard now to make pipes
of。'〃
〃And；〃 added the housekeeper； 〃will your worship be able to bear；
out in the fields； the heats of summer； and the chills of winter；
and the howling of the wolves？ Not you； for that's a life and a
business for hardy men； bred and seasoned to such work almost from the
time they were in swaddling…clothes。 Why； to make choice of evils；
it's better to be a knight…errant than a shepherd！ Look here； senor；
take my advice… and I'm not giving it to you full of bread and wine；
but fasting； and with fifty years upon my head… stay at home； look
after your affairs； go often to confession； be good to the poor； and
upon my soul be it if any evil comes to you。〃
〃Hold your peace； my daughters；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I know very well
what my duty is； help me to bed； for I don't feel very well； and
rest assured that； knight…errant now or wandering shepherd to be； I
shall never fail to have a care for your interests； as you will see in
the end。〃 And the good wenches （for that they undoubtedly were）； the
housekeeper and niece； helped him to bed； where they gave him
something to eat and made him as comfortable as possible。
CHAPTER LXXIV
OF HOW DON QUIXOTE FELL SICK； AND OF THE WILL HE MADE； AND HOW HE
DIED
AS NOTHING that is man's can last for ever； but all tends ever
downwards from its beginning to its end； and above all man's life； and
as Don Quixote's enjoyed no special dispensation from heaven to stay
its course； its end and close came when he least looked for it。 For…
whether it was of the dejection the thought of his defeat produced； or
of heaven's will that so ordered it… a fever settled upon him and kept
him in his bed for six days； during which he was often visited by
his friends the curate； th