"So I see," said Sancho, "and God grant we may not light upon our graves;

it is no good sign to find oneself wandering in a graveyard at this time

of night; and that, after my telling your worship, if I don't mistake,

that the house of this lady will be in an alley without an outlet."

"The curse of God on thee for a blockhead!" said Don Quixote; "where hast

thou ever heard of castles and royal palaces being built in alleys

without an outlet?"

"Senor," replied Sancho, "every country has a way of its own; perhaps

here in El Toboso it is the way to build palaces and grand buildings in

alleys; so I entreat your worship to let me search about among these

Advertisement..

streets or alleys before me, and perhaps, in some corner or other, I may

stumble on this palace--and I wish I saw the dogs eating it for leading

us such a dance."

"Speak respectfully of what belongs to my lady, Sancho," said Don

Quixote; "let us keep the feast in peace, and not throw the rope after

the bucket."

"I'll hold my tongue," said Sancho, "but how am I to take it patiently

when your worship wants me, with only once seeing the house of our

mistress, to know always, and find it in the middle of the night, when

your worship can't find it, who must have seen it thousands of times?"

"Thou wilt drive me to desperation, Sancho," said Don Quixote. "Look

here, heretic, have I not told thee a thousand times that I have never

once in my life seen the peerless Dulcinea or crossed the threshold of

her palace, and that I am enamoured solely by hearsay and by the great

reputation she bears for beauty and discretion?"

"I hear it now," returned Sancho; "and I may tell you that if you have

not seen her, no more have I."

"That cannot be," said Don Quixote, "for, at any rate, thou saidst, on

bringing back the answer to the letter I sent by thee, that thou sawest

her sifting wheat."

"Don't mind that, senor," said Sancho; "I must tell you that my seeing

her and the answer I brought you back were by hearsay too, for I can no

more tell who the lady Dulcinea is than I can hit the sky."

"Sancho, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "there are times for jests and times

when jests are out of place; if I tell thee that I have neither seen nor

spoken to the lady of my heart, it is no reason why thou shouldst say

thou hast not spoken to her or seen her, when the contrary is the case,

as thou well knowest."




Most Popular