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took comfort at this； dried his tears； suppressed his sobs； and
returned thanks for the kindness shown him by Don Quixote。 He on his
part was rejoiced to the heart on entering the mountains； as they
seemed to him to be just the place for the adventures he was in
quest of。 They brought back to his memory the marvellous adventures
that had befallen knights…errant in like solitudes and wilds； and he
went along reflecting on these things； so absorbed and carried away by
them that he had no thought for anything else。 Nor had Sancho any
other care （now that he fancied he was travelling in a safe quarter）
than to satisfy his appetite with such remains as were left of the
clerical spoils； and so he marched behind his master laden with what
Dapple used to carry； emptying the sack and packing his paunch； and so
long as he could go that way； he would not have given a farthing to
meet with another adventure。
While so engaged he raised his eyes and saw that his master had
halted； and was trying with the point of his pike to lift some bulky
object that lay upon the ground； on which he hastened to join him
and help him if it were needful； and reached him just as with the
point of the pike he was raising a saddle…pad with a valise attached
to it； half or rather wholly rotten and torn； but so heavy were they
that Sancho had to help to take them up； and his master directed him
to see what the valise contained。 Sancho did so with great alacrity；
and though the valise was secured by a chain and padlock； from its
torn and rotten condition he was able to see its contents； which
were four shirts of fine holland； and other articles of linen no
less curious than clean； and in a handkerchief he found a good lot
of gold crowns； and as soon as he saw them he exclaimed：
〃Blessed be all Heaven for sending us an adventure that is good
for something！〃
Searching further he found a little memorandum book richly bound；
this Don Quixote asked of him； telling him to take the money and
keep it for himself。 Sancho kissed his hands for the favour； and
cleared the valise of its linen； which he stowed away in the provision
sack。 Considering the whole matter； Don Quixote observed：
〃It seems to me； Sancho… and it is impossible it can be otherwise…
that some strayed traveller must have crossed this sierra and been
attacked and slain by footpads； who brought him to this remote spot to
bury him。〃
〃That cannot be；〃 answered Sancho； 〃because if they had been robbers
they would not have left this money。〃
〃Thou art right；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and I cannot guess or explain
what this may mean； but stay； let us see if in this memorandum book
there is anything written by which we may be able to trace out or
discover what we want to know。〃
He opened it； and the first thing he found in it； written roughly
but in a very good hand； was a sonnet； and reading it aloud that
Sancho might hear it； he found that it ran as follows：
SONNET
Or Love is lacking in intelligence；
Or to the height of cruelty attains；
Or else it is my doom to suffer pains
Beyond the measure due to my offence。
But if Love be a God； it follows thence
That he knows all； and certain it remains
No God loves cruelty； then who ordains
This penance that enthrals while it torments？
It were a falsehood； Chloe； thee to name；
Such evil with such goodness cannot live；
And against Heaven I dare not charge the blame；
I only know it is my fate to die。
To him who knows not whence his malady
A miracle alone a cure can give。
〃There is nothing to be learned from that rhyme；〃 said Sancho；
〃unless by that clue there's in it； one may draw out the ball of the
whole matter。〃
〃What clue is there？〃 said Don Quixote。
〃I thought your worship spoke of a clue in it；〃 said Sancho。
〃I only said Chloe；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and that no doubt； is the
name of the lady of whom the author of the sonnet complains； and；
faith； he must be a tolerable poet； or I know little of the craft。〃
〃Then your worship understands rhyming too？〃
〃And better than thou thinkest；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃as thou shalt
see when thou carriest a letter written in verse from beginning to end
to my lady Dulcinea del Toboso； for I would have thee know； Sancho；
that all or most of the knights…errant in days of yore were great
troubadours and great musicians； for both of these accomplishments； or
more properly speaking gifts； are the peculiar property of
lovers…errant： true it is that the verses of the knights of old have
more spirit than neatness in them。〃
〃Read more； your worship；〃 said Sancho； 〃and you will find something
that will enlighten us。〃
Don Quixote turned the page and said； 〃This is prose and seems to be
a letter。〃
〃A correspondence letter； senor？〃
〃From the beginning it seems to be a love letter；〃 replied Don
Quixote。
〃Then let your worship read it aloud；〃 said Sancho； 〃for I am very
fond of love matters。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said Don Quixote； and reading it aloud as
Sancho had requested him； he found it ran thus：
Thy false promise and my sure misforutne carry me to a place
whence the news of my death will reach thy ears before the words of my
complaint。 Ungrateful one； thou hast rejected me for one more wealthy；
but not more worthy； but if virtue were esteemed wealth I should
neither envy the fortunes of others nor weep for misfortunes of my
own。 What thy beauty raised up thy deeds have laid low； by it I
believed thee to be an angel； by them I know thou art a woman。 Peace
be with thee who hast sent war to me； and Heaven grant that the deceit
of thy husband be ever hidden from thee； so that thou repent not of
what thou hast done； and I reap not a revenge I would not have。
When he had finished the letter； Don Quixote said； 〃There is less to
be gathered from this than from the verses； except that he who wrote
it is some rejected lover；〃 and turning over nearly all the pages of
the book he found more verses and letters； some of which he could
read； while others he could not； but they were all made up of
complaints； laments； misgivings； desires and aversions； favours and
rejections； some rapturous； some doleful。 While Don Quixote examined
the book； Sancho examined the valise； not leaving a corner in the
whole of it or in the pad that he did not search； peer into； and
explore； or seam that he did not rip； or tuft of wool that he did
not pick to pieces； lest anything should escape for want of care and
pains； so keen was the covetousness excited in him by the discovery of
the crowns； which amounted to near a hundred； and though he found no
more booty； he held the blanket flights； balsam vomits； stake
benedictions； carriers' fisticuffs； missing alforjas； stolen coat； and
all the hunger； thirst； and weariness he had endured in the service of
his good master； cheap at the price； as he considered himself more
than fully indemnified for all by the payment he received in the
gift of the treasure…trove。
The Knight of the Rueful Countenance was still very anxious to
find out who the owner of the valise could be