The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
Children's literature
HOW DON QUIXOTE ARRIVED AT AN INN WHICH HE IMAGINED TO BE A CASTLE
Retold by Judge Parry
For some time after the Yanguesian carriers had gone on their way Don
Quixote and Sancho Panza lay on the ground groaning and saying
nothing.
The first that came to himself was Sancho Panza, who cried in a weak
and pitiful voice: "Sir Don Quixote! O Sir Don Quixote!"
"What wouldst thou, brother Sancho?" answered Don Quixote in the same
faint and grievous tone as Sancho.
"I would, if it were possible," said Sancho Panza, "that your worship
should give me a couple of mouthfuls of that balsam of Fierabras, if
so be that your worship has it at hand. Perhaps it will be as good for
broken bones as for wounds."
"If I had it here," sighed Don Quixote, "we should lack nothing. But I
swear to thee, Sancho Panza, on the faith of a knight-errant, that
before two days pass, unless fortune forbids, I will have it in my
possession."
"I pray you," asked Sancho, "in how many days do you think we shall be
able to move our feet?"
"I cannot say," said the battered knight; "but I take on myself the
blame of all, for I should not have drawn my sword against men that
are not knights. Therefore, brother Sancho, take heed of what I tell
thee, for it mightily concerns the welfare of us both; and it is this,
that when thou seest such rabble offer us any wrong, wait not for me
to draw sword upon them, for I will not do it in any wise, but put
thou thy hand to thy sword and chastise them at thy pleasure."
But Sancho Panza did not much relish his master's advice, and replied:
"Sir, I am a peaceable, sober, and quiet man, and can let pass any
injury whatever, for I have a wife and children to take care
of. Therefore, let me also say a word to your worship, that by no
manner of means shall I put hand to sword either against clown or
against knight. And from this time forth I forgive whatever insults
are paid to me, whether they are or shall be paid by persons high or
low, rich or poor, gentle or simple."
On hearing this his master said: "Would that I had breath enough to be
able to speak easily, and that the pain I feel in this rib were less,
that I, might make thee understand, Sancho, the mistake thou art
making! How can I appoint thee governor of an island when thou wouldst
make an end of all by having neither valour nor will to defend thy
lands or revenge thine injuries?"
"Alas!" groaned Sancho. "I would that I had the courage and
understanding of which your worship speaks, but in truth at this
moment I am more fit for plasters than preachments. See if your
worship can rise, and we will help Rozinante, although he deserves it
not, for he was the chief cause of all this mauling."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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