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otherwise engaged； and seeing that they all stood round his
companion and that she made no reply to what they addressed to her； he
said； 〃Ladies； this damsel hardly understands my language and can
speak none but that of her own country； for which reason she does
not and cannot answer what has been asked of her。〃
〃Nothing has been asked of her；〃 returned Luscinda； 〃she has only
been offered our company for this evening and a share of the
quarters we occupy； where she shall be made as comfortable as the
circumstances allow； with the good…will we are bound to show all
strangers that stand in need of it； especially if it be a woman to
whom the service is rendered。〃
〃On her part and my own； senora；〃 replied the captive； 〃I kiss
your hands； and I esteem highly； as I ought； the favour you have
offered； which； on such an occasion and coming from persons of your
appearance； is； it is plain to see； a very great one。〃
〃Tell me； senor；〃 said Dorothea； 〃is this lady a Christian or a
Moor？ for her dress and her silence lead us to imagine that she is
what we could wish she was not。〃
〃In dress and outwardly；〃 said he； 〃she is a Moor； but at heart
she is a thoroughly good Christian； for she has the greatest desire to
become one。〃
〃Then she has not been baptised？〃 returned Luscinda。
〃There has been no opportunity for that；〃 replied the captive；
〃since she left Algiers； her native country and home； and up to the
present she has not found herself in any such imminent danger of death
as to make it necessary to baptise her before she has been
instructed in all the ceremonies our holy mother Church ordains；
but； please God； ere long she shall be baptised with the solemnity
befitting her which is higher than her dress or mine indicates。〃
By these words he excited a desire in all who heard him； to know who
the Moorish lady and the captive were； but no one liked to ask just
then； seeing that it was a fitter moment for helping them to rest
themselves than for questioning them about their lives。 Dorothea
took the Moorish lady by the hand and leading her to a seat beside
herself； requested her to remove her veil。 She looked at the captive
as if to ask him what they meant and what she was to do。 He said to
her in Arabic that they asked her to take off her veil； and
thereupon she removed it and disclosed a countenance so lovely； that
to Dorothea she seemed more beautiful than Luscinda； and to Luscinda
more beautiful than Dorothea； and all the bystanders felt that if
any beauty could compare with theirs it was the Moorish lady's； and
there were even those who were inclined to give it somewhat the
preference。 And as it is the privilege and charm of beauty to win
the heart and secure good…will； all forthwith became eager to show
kindness and attention to the lovely Moor。
Don Fernando asked the captive what her name was； and he replied
that it was Lela Zoraida； but the instant she heard him； she guessed
what the Christian had asked； and said hastily； with some
displeasure and energy； 〃No； not Zoraida； Maria； Maria！〃 giving them
to understand that she was called 〃Maria〃 and not 〃Zoraida。〃 These
words； and the touching earnestness with which she uttered them；
drew more than one tear from some of the listeners； particularly the
women； who are by nature tender…hearted and compassionate。 Luscinda
embraced her affectionately； saying； 〃Yes； yes； Maria； Maria；〃 to
which the Moor replied； 〃Yes； yes； Maria； Zoraida macange；〃 which
means 〃not Zoraida。〃
Night was now approaching； and by the orders of those who
accompanied Don Fernando the landlord had taken care and pains to
prepare for them the best supper that was in his power。 The hour
therefore having arrived they all took their seats at a long table
like a refectory one； for round or square table there was none in
the inn； and the seat of honour at the head of it； though he was for
refusing it； they assigned to Don Quixote； who desired the lady
Micomicona to place herself by his side； as he was her protector。
Luscinda and Zoraida took their places next her； opposite to them were
Don Fernando and Cardenio； and next the captive and the other
gentlemen； and by the side of the ladies； the curate and the barber。
And so they supped in high enjoyment； which was increased when they
observed Don Quixote leave off eating； and； moved by an impulse like
that which made him deliver himself at such length when he supped with
the goatherds； begin to address them：
〃Verily； gentlemen； if we reflect upon it； great and marvellous
are the things they see； who make profession of the order of
knight…errantry。 Say； what being is there in this world； who
entering the gate of this castle at this moment； and seeing us as we
are here； would suppose or imagine us to be what we are？ Who would say
that this lady who is beside me was the great queen that we all know
her to be； or that I am that Knight of the Rueful Countenance；
trumpeted far and wide by the mouth of Fame？ Now； there can be no
doubt that this art and calling surpasses all those that mankind has
invented； and is the more deserving of being held in honour in
proportion as it is the more exposed to peril。 Away with those who
assert that letters have the preeminence over arms； I will tell
them； whosoever they may be； that they know not what they say。 For the
reason which such persons commonly assign； and upon which they chiefly
rest； is； that the labours of the mind are greater than those of the
body； and that arms give employment to the body alone； as if the
calling were a porter's trade； for which nothing more is required than
sturdy strength； or as if； in what we who profess them call arms；
there were not included acts of vigour for the execution of which high
intelligence is requisite； or as if the soul of the warrior； when he
has an army； or the defence of a city under his care； did not exert
itself as much by mind as by body。 Nay； see whether by bodily strength
it be possible to learn or divine the intentions of the enemy； his
plans； stratagems； or obstacles； or to ward off impending mischief；
for all these are the work of the mind； and in them the body has no
share whatever。 Since； therefore； arms have need of the mind； as
much as letters； let us see now which of the two minds； that of the
man of letters or that of the warrior； has most to do； and this will
be seen by the end and goal that each seeks to attain； for that
purpose is the more estimable which has for its aim the nobler object。
The end and goal of letters… I am not speaking now of divine
letters； the aim of which is to raise and direct the soul to Heaven；
for with an end so infinite no other can be compared… I speak of human
letters； the end of which is to establish distributive justice； give
to every man that which is his； and see and take care that good laws
are observed： an end undoubtedly noble； lofty； and deserving of high
praise； but not such as should be given to that sought by arms；
which have for their end and object peace； the greatest boon that
men can desire in this life。 The first good news the world and mankind
received was that which the angels announced on the night that was our