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she would conduct him； in order to redress a wrong which a wicked
knight had done her； while at the same time she should entreat him not
to require her to remove her mask； nor ask her any question touching
her circumstances until he had righted her with the wicked knight。 And
he had no doubt that Don Quixote would comply with any request made in
these terms； and that in this way they might remove him and take him
to his own village； where they would endeavour to find out if his
extraordinary madness admitted of any kind of remedy。
CHAPTER XXVII
OF HOW THE CURATE AND THE BARBER PROCEEDED WITH THEIR SCHEME；
TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS WORTHY OF RECORD IN THIS GREAT HISTORY
THE curate's plan did not seem a bad one to the barber； but on the
contrary so good that they immediately set about putting it in
execution。 They begged a petticoat and hood of the landlady； leaving
her in pledge a new cassock of the curate's； and the barber made a
beard out of a grey…brown or red ox…tail in which the landlord used to
stick his comb。 The landlady asked them what they wanted these
things for； and the curate told her in a few words about the madness
of Don Quixote； and how this disguise was intended to get him away
from the mountain where he then was。 The landlord and landlady
immediately came to the conclusion that the madman was their guest；
the balsam man and master of the blanketed squire； and they told the
curate all that had passed between him and them； not omitting what
Sancho had been so silent about。 Finally the landlady dressed up the
curate in a style that left nothing to be desired； she put on him a
cloth petticoat with black velvet stripes a palm broad； all slashed；
and a bodice of green velvet set off by a binding of white satin；
which as well as the petticoat must have been made in the time of king
Wamba。 The curate would not let them hood him； but put on his head a
little quilted linen cap which he used for a night…cap； and bound
his forehead with a strip of black silk； while with another he made
a mask with which he concealed his beard and face very well。 He then
put on his hat； which was broad enough to serve him for an umbrella；
and enveloping himself in his cloak seated himself woman…fashion on
his mule； while the barber mounted his with a beard down to the
waist of mingled red and white； for it was； as has been said； the tail
of a clay…red ox。
They took leave of all； and of the good Maritornes； who； sinner as
she was； promised to pray a rosary of prayers that God might grant
them success in such an arduous and Christian undertaking as that they
had in hand。 But hardly had he sallied forth from the inn when it
struck the curate that he was doing wrong in rigging himself out in
that fashion； as it was an indecorous thing for a priest to dress
himself that way even though much might depend upon it； and saying
so to the barber he begged him to change dresses； as it was fitter
he should be the distressed damsel； while he himself would play the
squire's part； which would be less derogatory to his dignity；
otherwise he was resolved to have nothing more to do with the
matter； and let the devil take Don Quixote。 Just at this moment Sancho
came up； and on seeing the pair in such a costume he was unable to
restrain his laughter； the barber； however； agreed to do as the curate
wished； and； altering their plan； the curate went on to instruct him
how to play his part and what to say to Don Quixote to induce and
compel him to come with them and give up his fancy for the place he
had chosen for his idle penance。 The barber told him he could manage
it properly without any instruction； and as he did not care to dress
himself up until they were near where Don Quixote was； he folded up
the garments； and the curate adjusted his beard； and they set out
under the guidance of Sancho Panza； who went along telling them of the
encounter with the madman they met in the Sierra； saying nothing；
however； about the finding of the valise and its contents； for with
all his simplicity the lad was a trifle covetous。
The next day they reached the place where Sancho had laid the
broom…branches as marks to direct him to where he had left his master；
and recognising it he told them that here was the entrance； and that
they would do well to dress themselves； if that was required to
deliver his master； for they had already told him that going in this
guise and dressing in this way were of the highest importance in order
to rescue his master from the pernicious life he had adopted； and they
charged him strictly not to tell his master who they were； or that
he knew them； and should he ask； as ask he would； if he had given
the letter to Dulcinea； to say that he had； and that； as she did not
know how to read； she had given an answer by word of mouth； saying
that she commanded him； on pain of her displeasure； to come and see
her at once； and it was a very important matter for himself； because
in this way and with what they meant to say to him they felt sure of
bringing him back to a better mode of life and inducing him to take
immediate steps to become an emperor or monarch； for there was no fear
of his becoming an archbishop。 All this Sancho listened to and fixed
it well in his memory； and thanked them heartily for intending to
recommend his master to be an emperor instead of an archbishop； for he
felt sure that in the way of bestowing rewards on their squires
emperors could do more than archbishops…errant。 He said； too； that
it would be as well for him to go on before them to find him； and give
him his lady's answer； for that perhaps might be enough to bring him
away from the place without putting them to all this trouble。 They
approved of what Sancho proposed； and resolved to wait for him until
he brought back word of having found his master。
Sancho pushed on into the glens of the Sierra； leaving them in one
through which there flowed a little gentle rivulet； and where the
rocks and trees afforded a cool and grateful shade。 It was an August
day with all the heat of one； and the heat in those parts is
intense； and the hour was three in the afternoon； all which made the
spot the more inviting and tempted them to wait there for Sancho's
return； which they did。 They were reposing； then； in the shade； when a
voice unaccompanied by the notes of any instrument； but sweet and
pleasing in its tone； reached their ears； at which they were not a
little astonished； as the place did not seem to them likely quarters
for one who sang so well； for though it is often said that shepherds
of rare voice are to be found in the woods and fields； this is
rather a flight of the poet's fancy than the truth。 And still more
surprised were they when they perceived that what they heard sung were
the verses not of rustic shepherds； but of the polished wits of the
city； and so it proved； for the verses they heard were these：
What makes my quest of happiness seem vain？
Disdain。
What bids me to abandon hope of ease？
Jealousies。
What holds my heart in anguish of suspense？
Absence。
If that be so； then for m