The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
Children's literature
The name being thus given to his horse, he made up his mind to give
himself a name also, and in that thought laboured another eight
days. Finally he determined to call himself Don Quixote, and
remembering that the great knights of olden time were not satisfied
with a mere dry name, but added to it the name of their kingdom or
country, so he like a good knight added to his own that of his
province, and called himself Don Quixote of the Mancha, whereby he
declared his birthplace and did honour to his country by taking it for
his surname.
His armour being scoured, his morion transformed into a helmet, his
horse named, and himself furnished with a new name, he considered that
now he wanted nothing but a lady on whom he might bestow his service
and affection. "For," he said to himself, remembering what he had read
in the books of knightly adventures, "if I should by good hap
encounter with some giant, as knights-errant ordinarily do, and if I
should overthrow him with one blow to the ground, or cut him with a
stroke in two halves, or finally overcome and make him yield to me, it
would be only right and proper that I should have some lady to whom I
might present him. Then would he, entering my sweet lady's presence,
say unto her with a humble and submissive voice: 'Madam, I am the
Giant Caraculiambro, lord of the island called Malindrania, whom the
never-too-much-praised knight Don Quixote of the Mancha hath overcome
in single combat. He hath commanded me to present myself to your
greatness, that it may please your highness to dispose of me according
to your liking."
You may believe that the heart of the knight danced for joy when he
made that grand speech, and he was even more pleased when he had found
out one whom he might call his lady. For, they say, there lived in the
next village to his own a hale, buxom country girl with whom he was
sometime in love, though for the matter of that she had never known of
it or taken any notice of him whatever. She was called Aldonca
Lorenso, and her he thought fittest to honour as the Lady of his
Fancy. Then he began to search about in his mind for a name that
should not vary too much from her own, but should at the same time
show people that she was a princess or lady of quality. Thus it was
that he called her Dulcinea of Toboso, a name sufficiently strange,
romantic, and musical for the lady of so brave a knight. And now,
having taken to himself both armour, horse, and lady fair, he was
ready to go forth and seek adventures.
HE SETS FORTH ON HIS ADVENTURES
Retold by Judge Parry
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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