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quitting Don Quixote； ran to bring her the help she needed； and the
innkeeper did the same but with a different intention； for his was
to chastise the lass； as he believed that beyond a doubt she alone was
the cause of all the harmony。 And so； as the saying is； cat to rat；
rat to rope； rope to stick； the carrier pounded Sancho； Sancho the
lass； she him； and the innkeeper her； and all worked away so briskly
that they did not give themselves a moment's rest； and the best of
it was that the innkeeper's lamp went out； and as they were left in
the dark they all laid on one upon the other in a mass so unmercifully
that there was not a sound spot left where a hand could light。
It so happened that there was lodging that night in the inn a
caudrillero of what they call the Old Holy Brotherhood of Toledo； who；
also hearing the extraordinary noise of the conflict； seized his staff
and the tin case with his warrants； and made his way in the dark
into the room crying： 〃Hold！ in the name of the Jurisdiction！ Hold！ in
the name of the Holy Brotherhood！〃
The first that he came upon was the pummelled Don Quixote； who lay
stretched senseless on his back upon his broken…down bed； and； his
hand falling on the beard as he felt about； he continued to cry； 〃Help
for the Jurisdiction！〃 but perceiving that he whom he had laid hold of
did not move or stir； he concluded that he was dead and that those
in the room were his murderers； and with this suspicion he raised
his voice still higher； calling out； 〃Shut the inn gate； see that no
one goes out； they have killed a man here！〃 This cry startled them
all； and each dropped the contest at the point at which the voice
reached him。 The innkeeper retreated to his room； the carrier to his
pack…saddles； the lass to her crib； the unlucky Don Quixote and Sancho
alone were unable to move from where they were。 The cuadrillero on
this let go Don Quixote's beard； and went out to look for a light to
search for and apprehend the culprits； but not finding one； as the
innkeeper had purposely extinguished the lantern on retreating to
his room； he was compelled to have recourse to the hearth； where after
much time and trouble he lit another lamp。
CHAPTER XVII
IN WHICH ARE CONTAINED THE INNUMERABLE TROUBLES WHICH THE BRAVE
DON QUIXOTE AND HIS GOOD SQUIRE SANCHO PANZA ENDURED IN THE INN； WHICH
TO HIS MISFORTUNE HE TOOK TO BE A CASTLE
BY THIS time Don Quixote had recovered from his swoon； and in the
same tone of voice in which he had called to his squire the day before
when he lay stretched 〃in the vale of the stakes；〃 he began calling to
him now； 〃Sancho； my friend； art thou asleep？ sleepest thou； friend
Sancho？〃
〃How can I sleep； curses on it！〃 returned Sancho discontentedly
and bitterly； 〃when it is plain that all the devils have been at me
this night？〃
〃Thou mayest well believe that；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃because；
either I know little； or this castle is enchanted； for thou must know…
but this that I am now about to tell thee thou must swear to keep
secret until after my death。〃
〃I swear it；〃 answered Sancho。
〃I say so；〃 continued Don Quixote； 〃because I hate taking away
anyone's good name。〃
〃I say；〃 replied Sancho； 〃that I swear to hold my tongue about it
till the end of your worship's days； and God grant I may be able to
let it out tomorrow。〃
〃Do I do thee such injuries； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that thou
wouldst see me dead so soon？〃
〃It is not for that；〃 replied Sancho； 〃but because I hate keeping
things long； and I don't want them to grow rotten with me from
over…keeping。〃
〃At any rate；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I have more confidence in thy
affection and good nature； and so I would have thee know that this
night there befell me one of the strangest adventures that I could
describe； and to relate it to thee briefly thou must know that a
little while ago the daughter of the lord of this castle came to me；
and that she is the most elegant and beautiful damsel that could be
found in the wide world。 What I could tell thee of the charms of her
person！ of her lively wit！ of other secret matters which； to
preserve the fealty I owe to my lady Dulcinea del Toboso； I shall pass
over unnoticed and in silence！ I will only tell thee that； either fate
being envious of so great a boon placed in my hands by good fortune；
or perhaps （and this is more probable） this castle being； as I have
already said； enchanted； at the time when I was engaged in the
sweetest and most amorous discourse with her； there came； without my
seeing or knowing whence it came； a hand attached to some arm of
some huge giant； that planted such a cuff on my jaws that I have
them all bathed in blood； and then pummelled me in such a way that I
am in a worse plight than yesterday when the carriers； on account of
Rocinante's misbehaviour； inflicted on us the injury thou knowest
of； whence conjecture that there must be some enchanted Moor
guarding the treasure of this damsel's beauty； and that it is not
for me。〃
〃Not for me either；〃 said Sancho； 〃for more than four hundred
Moors have so thrashed me that the drubbing of the stakes was cakes
and fancy…bread to it。 But tell me； senor； what do you call this
excellent and rare adventure that has left us as we are left now？
Though your worship was not so badly off； having in your arms that
incomparable beauty you spoke of； but I； what did I have； except the
heaviest whacks I think I had in all my life？ Unlucky me and the
mother that bore me！ for I am not a knight…errant and never expect
to be one； and of all the mishaps； the greater part falls to my
share。〃
〃Then thou hast been thrashed too？〃 said Don Quixote。
〃Didn't I say so？ worse luck to my line！〃 said Sancho。
〃Be not distressed； friend；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for I will now
make the precious balsam with which we shall cure ourselves in the
twinkling of an eye。〃
By this time the cuadrillero had succeeded in lighting the lamp； and
came in to see the man that he thought had been killed； and as
Sancho caught sight of him at the door； seeing him coming in his
shirt； with a cloth on his head； and a lamp in his hand； and a very
forbidding countenance； he said to his master； 〃Senor； can it be
that this is the enchanted Moor coming back to give us more
castigation if there be anything still left in the ink…bottle？〃
〃It cannot be the Moor；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃for those under
enchantment do not let themselves be seen by anyone。〃
〃If they don't let themselves be seen； they let themselves be felt；〃
said Sancho； 〃if not； let my shoulders speak to the point。〃
〃Mine could speak too；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but that is not a
sufficient reason for believing that what we see is the enchanted
Moor。〃
The officer came up； and finding them engaged in such a peaceful
conversation； stood amazed； though Don Quixote； to be sure； still
lay on his back unable to move from pure pummelling and plasters。
The officer turned to him and said； 〃Well； how goes it； good man？〃
〃I would speak more politely if I were you；〃 replied Don Quixote；
〃is it the way of this country to address knights…errant in that
style； you booby？〃
The cuadrillero finding h