"That of knight-errantry," said Don Quixote, "which is as good as that of

poetry, and even a finger or two above it."

"I do not know what science that is," said Don Lorenzo, "and until now I

have never heard of it."

"It is a science," said Don Quixote, "that comprehends in itself all or

most of the sciences in the world, for he who professes it must be a

jurist, and must know the rules of justice, distributive and equitable,

so as to give to each one what belongs to him and is due to him. He must

be a theologian, so as to be able to give a clear and distinctive reason

for the Christian faith he professes, wherever it may be asked of him. He

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must be a physician, and above all a herbalist, so as in wastes and

solitudes to know the herbs that have the property of healing wounds, for

a knight-errant must not go looking for some one to cure him at every

step. He must be an astronomer, so as to know by the stars how many hours

of the night have passed, and what clime and quarter of the world he is

in. He must know mathematics, for at every turn some occasion for them

will present itself to him; and, putting it aside that he must be adorned

with all the virtues, cardinal and theological, to come down to minor

particulars, he must, I say, be able to swim as well as Nicholas or

Nicolao the Fish could, as the story goes; he must know how to shoe a

horse, and repair his saddle and bridle; and, to return to higher

matters, he must be faithful to God and to his lady; he must be pure in

thought, decorous in words, generous in works, valiant in deeds, patient

in suffering, compassionate towards the needy, and, lastly, an upholder

of the truth though its defence should cost him his life. Of all these

qualities, great and small, is a true knight-errant made up; judge then,

Senor Don Lorenzo, whether it be a contemptible science which the knight

who studies and professes it has to learn, and whether it may not compare

with the very loftiest that are taught in the schools."

"If that be so," replied Don Lorenzo, "this science, I protest, surpasses

all."

"How, if that be so?" said Don Quixote.

"What I mean to say," said Don Lorenzo, "is, that I doubt whether there

are now, or ever were, any knights-errant, and adorned with such

virtues."

"Many a time," replied Don Quixote, "have I said what I now say once

more, that the majority of the world are of opinion that there never were

any knights-errant in it; and as it is my opinion that, unless heaven by

some miracle brings home to them the truth that there were and are, all

the pains one takes will be in vain (as experience has often proved to

me), I will not now stop to disabuse you of the error you share with the

multitude. All I shall do is to pray to heaven to deliver you from it,

and show you how beneficial and necessary knights-errant were in days of

yore, and how useful they would be in these days were they but in vogue;

but now, for the sins of the people, sloth and indolence, gluttony and

luxury are triumphant."




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