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repeating some devout prayer； in the middle of his delivery he
raised his hand and gave him a sturdy blow on the neck； and then； with
his own sword； a smart slap on the shoulder； all the while muttering
between his teeth as if he was saying his prayers。 Having done this；
he directed one of the ladies to gird on his sword； which she did with
great self…possession and gravity； and not a little was required to
prevent a burst of laughter at each stage of the ceremony； but what
they had already seen of the novice knight's prowess kept their
laughter within bounds。 On girding him with the sword the worthy
lady said to him； 〃May God make your worship a very fortunate
knight； and grant you success in battle。〃 Don Quixote asked her name
in order that he might from that time forward know to whom he was
beholden for the favour he had received； as he meant to confer upon
her some portion of the honour he acquired by the might of his arm。
She answered with great humility that she was called La Tolosa； and
that she was the daughter of a cobbler of Toledo who lived in the
stalls of Sanchobienaya； and that wherever she might be she would
serve and esteem him as her lord。 Don Quixote said in reply that she
would do him a favour if thenceforward she assumed the 〃Don〃 and
called herself Dona Tolosa。 She promised she would； and then the other
buckled on his spur； and with her followed almost the same
conversation as with the lady of the sword。 He asked her name； and she
said it was La Molinera； and that she was the daughter of a
respectable miller of Antequera； and of her likewise Don Quixote
requested that she would adopt the 〃Don〃 and call herself Dona
Molinera； making offers to her further services and favours。
Having thus； with hot haste and speed； brought to a conclusion these
never…till…now…seen ceremonies； Don Quixote was on thorns until he saw
himself on horseback sallying forth in quest of adventures； and
saddling Rocinante at once he mounted； and embracing his host； as he
returned thanks for his kindness in knighting him； he addressed him in
language so extraordinary that it is impossible to convey an idea of
it or report it。 The landlord； to get him out of the inn； replied with
no less rhetoric though with shorter words； and without calling upon
him to pay the reckoning let him go with a Godspeed。
CHAPTER IV
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR KNIGHT WHEN HE LEFT THE INN
DAY was dawning when Don Quixote quitted the inn； so happy； so
gay； so exhilarated at finding himself now dubbed a knight； that his
joy was like to burst his horse…girths。 However； recalling the
advice of his host as to the requisites he ought to carry with him；
especially that referring to money and shirts； he determined to go
home and provide himself with all； and also with a squire； for he
reckoned upon securing a farm…labourer； a neighbour of his； a poor man
with a family； but very well qualified for the office of squire to a
knight。 With this object he turned his horse's head towards his
village； and Rocinante； thus reminded of his old quarters； stepped out
so briskly that he hardly seemed to tread the earth。
He had not gone far； when out of a thicket on his right there seemed
to come feeble cries as of some one in distress； and the instant he
heard them he exclaimed； 〃Thanks be to heaven for the favour it
accords me； that it so soon offers me an opportunity of fulfilling the
obligation I have undertaken； and gathering the fruit of my
ambition。 These cries； no doubt； come from some man or woman in want
of help； and needing my aid and protection；〃 and wheeling； he turned
Rocinante in the direction whence the cries seemed to proceed。 He
had gone but a few paces into the wood； when he saw a mare tied to
an oak； and tied to another； and stripped from the waist upwards； a
youth of about fifteen years of age； from whom the cries came。 Nor
were they without cause； for a lusty farmer was flogging him with a
belt and following up every blow with scoldings and commands；
repeating； 〃Your mouth shut and your eyes open！〃 while the youth
made answer； 〃I won't do it again； master mine； by God's passion I
won't do it again； and I'll take more care of the flock another time。〃
Seeing what was going on； Don Quixote said in an angry voice；
〃Discourteous knight； it ill becomes you to assail one who cannot
defend himself； mount your steed and take your lance〃 （for there was a
lance leaning against the oak to which the mare was tied）； 〃and I will
make you know that you are behaving as a coward。〃 The farmer； seeing
before him this figure in full armour brandishing a lance over his
head； gave himself up for dead； and made answer meekly； 〃Sir Knight；
this youth that I am chastising is my servant； employed by me to watch
a flock of sheep that I have hard by； and he is so careless that I
lose one every day； and when I punish him for his carelessness and
knavery he says I do it out of niggardliness； to escape paying him the
wages I owe him； and before God； and on my soul； he lies。〃
〃Lies before me； base clown！〃 said Don Quixote。 〃By the sun that
shines on us I have a mind to run you through with this lance。 Pay him
at once without another word； if not； by the God that rules us I
will make an end of you； and annihilate you on the spot； release him
instantly。〃
The farmer hung his head； and without a word untied his servant；
of whom Don Quixote asked how much his master owed him。
He replied； nine months at seven reals a month。 Don Quixote added it
up； found that it came to sixty…three reals； and told the farmer to
pay it down immediately； if he did not want to die for it。
The trembling clown replied that as he lived and by the oath he
had sworn （though he had not sworn any） it was not so much； for
there were to be taken into account and deducted three pairs of
shoes he had given him； and a real for two blood…lettings when he
was sick。
〃All that is very well；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but let the shoes and
the blood…lettings stand as a setoff against the blows you have
given him without any cause； for if he spoiled the leather of the
shoes you paid for； you have damaged that of his body； and if the
barber took blood from him when he was sick； you have drawn it when he
was sound； so on that score he owes you nothing。〃
〃The difficulty is； Sir Knight； that I have no money here； let
Andres come home with me； and I will pay him all； real by real。〃
〃I go with him！〃 said the youth。 〃Nay； God forbid！ No； senor； not
for the world； for once alone with me； he would ray me like a Saint
Bartholomew。〃
〃He will do nothing of the kind；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃I have only
to command； and he will obey me； and as he has sworn to me by the
order of knighthood which he has received； I leave him free； and I
guarantee the payment。〃
〃Consider what you are saying； senor；〃 said the youth； 〃this
master of mine is not a knight； nor has he received any order of
knighthood； for he is Juan Haldudo the Rich； of Quintanar。〃
〃That matters little；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃there may be Haldudos
knights； moreover； everyone is the son of his works。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Andres； 〃but this master of mine… of what wo