The doleful knight took Don Quixote by the arm, saying, "Sit down here,

sir knight; for, that you are one, and of those that profess

knight-errantry, it is to me a sufficient proof to have found you in this

place, where solitude and night, the natural couch and proper retreat of

knights-errant, keep you company." To which Don made answer, "A knight I

am of the profession you mention, and though sorrows, misfortunes, and

calamities have made my heart their abode, the compassion I feel for the

misfortunes of others has not been thereby banished from it. From what

you have just now sung I gather that yours spring from love, I mean from

the love you bear that fair ingrate you named in your lament."

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In the meantime, they had seated themselves together on the hard ground

peaceably and sociably, just as if, as soon as day broke, they were not

going to break one another's heads.

"Are you, sir knight, in love perchance?" asked he of the Grove of Don

Quixote.

"By mischance I am," replied Don Quixote; "though the ills arising from

well-bestowed affections should be esteemed favours rather than

misfortunes."

"That is true," returned he of the Grove, "if scorn did not unsettle our

reason and understanding, for if it be excessive it looks like revenge."

"I was never scorned by my lady," said Don Quixote.

"Certainly not," said Sancho, who stood close by, "for my lady is as a

lamb, and softer than a roll of butter."

"Is this your squire?" asked he of the Grove.

"He is," said Don Quixote.

"I never yet saw a squire," said he of the Grove, "who ventured to speak

when his master was speaking; at least, there is mine, who is as big as

his father, and it cannot be proved that he has ever opened his lips when

I am speaking."

"By my faith then," said Sancho, "I have spoken, and am fit to speak, in

the presence of one as much, or even--but never mind--it only makes it

worse to stir it."

The squire of the Grove took Sancho by the arm, saying to him, "Let us

two go where we can talk in squire style as much as we please, and leave

these gentlemen our masters to fight it out over the story of their

loves; and, depend upon it, daybreak will find them at it without having

made an end of it."

"So be it by all means," said Sancho; "and I will tell your worship who I

am, that you may see whether I am to be reckoned among the number of the

most talkative squires."




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