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the night； till Sancho； perceiving that daybreak was coming on
apace； very cautiously untied Rocinante and tied up his breeches。 As
soon as Rocinante found himself free； though by nature he was not at
all mettlesome； he seemed to feel lively and began pawing… for as to
capering； begging his pardon； he knew not what it meant。 Don
Quixote； then； observing that Rocinante could move； took it as a
good sign and a signal that he should attempt the dread adventure。
By this time day had fully broken and everything showed distinctly；
and Don Quixote saw that he was among some tall trees； chestnuts；
which cast a very deep shade； he perceived likewise that the sound
of the strokes did not cease； but could not discover what caused it；
and so without any further delay he let Rocinante feel the spur； and
once more taking leave of Sancho； he told him to wait for him there
three days at most； as he had said before； and if he should not have
returned by that time； he might feel sure it had been God's will
that he should end his days in that perilous adventure。 He again
repeated the message and commission with which he was to go on his
behalf to his lady Dulcinea； and said he was not to be uneasy as to
the payment of his services； for before leaving home he had made his
will； in which he would find himself fully recompensed in the matter
of wages in due proportion to the time he had served； but if God
delivered him safe； sound； and unhurt out of that danger； he might
look upon the promised island as much more than certain。 Sancho
began to weep afresh on again hearing the affecting words of his
good master； and resolved to stay with him until the final issue and
end of the business。 From these tears and this honourable resolve of
Sancho Panza's the author of this history infers that he must have
been of good birth and at least an old Christian； and the feeling he
displayed touched his but not so much as to make him show any
weakness； on the contrary； hiding what he felt as well as he could； he
began to move towards that quarter whence the sound of the water and
of the strokes seemed to come。
Sancho followed him on foot； leading by the halter； as his custom
was； his ass； his constant comrade in prosperity or adversity； and
advancing some distance through the shady chestnut trees they came
upon a little meadow at the foot of some high rocks； down which a
mighty rush of water flung itself。 At the foot of the rocks were
some rudely constructed houses looking more like ruins than houses；
from among which came； they perceived； the din and clatter of blows；
which still continued without intermission。 Rocinante took fright at
the noise of the water and of the blows； but quieting him Don
Quixote advanced step by step towards the houses； commending himself
with all his heart to his lady； imploring her support in that dread
pass and enterprise； and on the way commending himself to God； too；
not to forget him。 Sancho who never quitted his side； stretched his
neck as far as he could and peered between the legs of Rocinante to
see if he could now discover what it was that caused him such fear and
apprehension。 They went it might be a hundred paces farther； when on
turning a corner the true cause； beyond the possibility of any
mistake； of that dread…sounding and to them awe…inspiring noise that
had kept them all the night in such fear and perplexity； appeared
plain and obvious； and it was （if； reader； thou art not disgusted
and disappointed） six fulling hammers which by their alternate strokes
made all the din。
When Don Quixote perceived what it was； he was struck dumb and rigid
from head to foot。 Sancho glanced at him and saw him with his head
bent down upon his breast in manifest mortification； and Don Quixote
glanced at Sancho and saw him with his cheeks puffed out and his mouth
full of laughter； and evidently ready to explode with it； and in spite
of his vexation he could not help laughing at the sight of him； and
when Sancho saw his master begin he let go so heartily that he had
to hold his sides with both hands to keep himself from bursting with
laughter。 Four times he stopped； and as many times did his laughter
break out afresh with the same violence as at first； whereat Don
Quixote grew furious； above all when he heard him say mockingly； 〃Thou
must know； friend Sancho； that of Heaven's will I was born in this our
iron age to revive in it the golden or age of gold； I am he for whom
are reserved perils； mighty achievements； valiant deeds；〃 and here
he went on repeating the words that Don Quixote uttered the first time
they heard the awful strokes。
Don Quixote； then； seeing that Sancho was turning him into ridicule；
was so mortified and vexed that he lifted up his pike and smote him
two such blows that if； instead of catching them on his shoulders；
he had caught them on his head there would have been no wages to
pay； unless indeed to his heirs。 Sancho seeing that he was getting
an awkward return in earnest for his jest； and fearing his master
might carry it still further； said to him very humbly； 〃Calm yourself；
sir； for by God I am only joking。〃
〃Well； then； if you are joking I am not；〃 replied Don Quixote。 〃Look
here； my lively gentleman； if these； instead of being fulling hammers；
had been some perilous adventure； have I not； think you； shown the
courage required for the attempt and achievement？ Am I； perchance；
being； as I am； a gentleman； bound to know and distinguish sounds
and tell whether they come from fulling mills or not； and that； when
perhaps； as is the case； I have never in my life seen any as you have；
low boor as you are； that have been born and bred among them？ But turn
me these six hammers into six giants； and bring them to beard me；
one by one or all together； and if I do not knock them head over
heels； then make what mockery you like of me。〃
〃No more of that； senor；〃 returned Sancho； 〃I own I went a little
too far with the joke。 But tell me； your worship； now that peace is
made between us （and may God bring you out of all the adventures
that may befall you as safe and sound as he has brought you out of
this one）； was it not a thing to laugh at； and is it not a good story；
the great fear we were in？… at least that I was in； for as to your
worship I see now that you neither know nor understand what either
fear or dismay is。〃
〃I do not deny；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that what happened to us may
be worth laughing at； but it is not worth making a story about； for it
is not everyone that is shrewd enough to hit the right point of a
thing。〃
〃At any rate；〃 said Sancho； 〃your worship knew how to hit the
right point with your pike； aiming at my head and hitting me on the
shoulders； thanks be to God and my own smartness in dodging it。 But
let that pass； all will come out in the scouring； for I have heard say
'he loves thee well that makes thee weep；' and moreover that it is the
way with great lords after any hard words they give a servant to
give him a pair of breeches； though I do not know what they give after
blows； unless it be that knights…errant after blows give islands； or
kingdoms on the mainland。〃
〃It may be on the dice；〃 s