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〃is it the way of this country to address knights…errant in that
style； you booby？〃
The cuadrillero finding himself so disrespectfully treated by such a
sorry…looking individual； lost his temper； and raising the lamp full
of oil； smote Don Quixote such a blow with it on the head that he gave
him a badly broken pate； then； all being in darkness； he went out； and
Sancho Panza said； 〃That is certainly the enchanted Moor； Senor； and
he keeps the treasure for others； and for us only the cuffs and
lamp…whacks。〃
〃That is the truth；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃and there is no use in
troubling oneself about these matters of enchantment or being angry or
vexed at them； for as they are invisible and visionary we shall find
no one on whom to avenge ourselves； do what we may； rise； Sancho； if
thou canst； and call the alcaide of this fortress； and get him to give
me a little oil； wine； salt； and rosemary to make the salutiferous
balsam； for indeed I believe I have great need of it now； because I am
losing much blood from the wound that phantom gave me。〃
Sancho got up with pain enough in his bones； and went after the
innkeeper in the dark； and meeting the officer； who was looking to see
what had become of his enemy； he said to him； 〃Senor； whoever you are；
do us the favour and kindness to give us a little rosemary； oil； salt；
and wine； for it is wanted to cure one of the best knights…errant on
earth； who lies on yonder bed wounded by the hands of the enchanted
Moor that is in this inn。〃
When the officer heard him talk in this way； he took him for a man
out of his senses； and as day was now beginning to break； he opened
the inn gate； and calling the host； he told him what this good man
wanted。 The host furnished him with what he required； and Sancho
brought it to Don Quixote； who； with his hand to his head； was
bewailing the pain of the blow of the lamp； which had done him no more
harm than raising a couple of rather large lumps； and what he
fancied blood was only the sweat that flowed from him in his
sufferings during the late storm。 To be brief； he took the
materials； of which he made a compound； mixing them all and boiling
them a good while until it seemed to him they had come to
perfection。 He then asked for some vial to pour it into； and as
there was not one in the inn； he decided on putting it into a tin
oil…bottle or flask of which the host made him a free gift； and over
the flask he repeated more than eighty paternosters and as many more
ave…marias； salves； and credos； accompanying each word with a cross by
way of benediction； at all which there were present Sancho； the
innkeeper； and the cuadrillero； for the carrier was now peacefully
engaged in attending to the comfort of his mules。
This being accomplished； he felt anxious to make trial himself； on
the spot； of the virtue of this precious balsam； as he considered
it； and so he drank near a quart of what could not be put into the
flask and remained in the pigskin in which it had been boiled； but
scarcely had he done drinking when he began to vomit in such a way
that nothing was left in his stomach； and with the pangs and spasms of
vomiting he broke into a profuse sweat； on account of which he bade
them cover him up and leave him alone。 They did so； and he lay
sleeping more than three hours； at the end of which he awoke and
felt very great bodily relief and so much ease from his bruises that
he thought himself quite cured； and verily believed he had hit upon
the balsam of Fierabras； and that with this remedy he might
thenceforward； without any fear； face any kind of destruction； battle；
or combat； however perilous it might be。
Sancho Panza； who also regarded the amendment of his master as
miraculous； begged him to give him what was left in the pigskin； which
was no small quantity。 Don Quixote consented； and he； taking it with
both hands； in good faith and with a better will； gulped down and
drained off very little less than his master。 But the fact is； that
the stomach of poor Sancho was of necessity not so delicate as that of
his master； and so； before vomiting； he was seized with such
gripings and retchings； and such sweats and faintness； that verily and
truly be believed his last hour had come； and finding himself so
racked and tormented he cursed the balsam and the thief that had given
it to him。
Don Quixote seeing him in this state said； 〃It is my belief； Sancho；
that this mischief comes of thy not being dubbed a knight； for I am
persuaded this liquor cannot be good for those who are not so。〃
〃If your worship knew that；〃 returned Sancho… 〃woe betide me and all
my kindred！… why did you let me taste it？〃
At this moment the draught took effect； and the poor squire began to
discharge both ways at such a rate that the rush mat on which he had
thrown himself and the canvas blanket he had covering him were fit for
nothing afterwards。 He sweated and perspired with such paroxysms and
convulsions that not only he himself but all present thought his end
had come。 This tempest and tribulation lasted about two hours； at
the end of which he was left； not like his master； but so weak and
exhausted that he could not stand。 Don Quixote； however； who； as has
been said； felt himself relieved and well； was eager to take his
departure at once in quest of adventures； as it seemed to him that all
the time he loitered there was a fraud upon the world and those in
it who stood in need of his help and protection； all the more when
he had the security and confidence his balsam afforded him； and so；
urged by this impulse； he saddled Rocinante himself and put the
pack…saddle on his squire's beast； whom likewise he helped to dress
and mount the ass； after which he mounted his horse and turning to a
corner of the inn he laid hold of a pike that stood there； to serve
him by way of a lance。 All that were in the inn； who were more than
twenty persons； stood watching him； the innkeeper's daughter was
likewise observing him； and he too never took his eyes off her； and
from time to time fetched a sigh that he seemed to pluck up from the
depths of his bowels； but they all thought it must be from the pain he
felt in his ribs； at any rate they who had seen him plastered the
night before thought so。
As soon as they were both mounted； at the gate of the inn； he called
to the host and said in a very grave and measured voice； 〃Many and
great are the favours； Senor Alcaide； that I have received in this
castle of yours； and I remain under the deepest obligation to be
grateful to you for them all the days of my life； if I can repay
them in avenging you of any arrogant foe who may have wronged you；
know that my calling is no other than to aid the weak； to avenge those
who suffer wrong； and to chastise perfidy。 Search your memory； and
if you find anything of this kind you need only tell me of it； and I
promise you by the order of knighthood which I have received to
procure you satisfaction and reparation to the utmost of your desire。〃
The innkeeper replied to him with equal calmness； 〃Sir Knight； I
do not want your worship to avenge me of any wrong； because when any
is done me I can take what vengeance see