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clarion； to ring bells this way in Sansuena is unquestionably a
great absurdity。〃
On hearing this； Master Pedro stopped ringing； and said； 〃Don't look
into trifles； Senor Don Quixote； or want to have things up to a
pitch of perfection that is out of reach。 Are there not almost every
day a thousand comedies represented all round us full of thousands
of inaccuracies and absurdities； and； for all that； they have a
successful run； and are listened to not only with applause； but with
admiration and all the rest of it？ Go on； boy； and don't mind； for
so long as I fill my pouch； no matter if I show as many inaccuracies
as there are motes in a sunbeam。〃
〃True enough；〃 said Don Quixote； and the boy went on： 〃See what a
numerous and glittering crowd of horsemen issues from the city in
pursuit of the two faithful lovers； what a blowing of trumpets there
is； what sounding of horns； what beating of drums and tabors； I fear
me they will overtake them and bring them back tied to the tail of
their own horse； which would be a dreadful sight。〃
Don Quixote； however； seeing such a swarm of Moors and hearing
such a din； thought it would be right to aid the fugitives； and
standing up he exclaimed in a loud voice； 〃Never； while I live； will I
permit foul play to be practised in my presence on such a famous
knight and fearless lover as Don Gaiferos。 Halt！ ill…born rabble；
follow him not nor pursue him； or ye will have to reckon with me in
battle！〃 and suiting the action to the word； he drew his sword； and
with one bound placed himself close to the show； and with unexampled
rapidity and fury began to shower down blows on the puppet troop of
Moors； knocking over some； decapitating others； maiming this one and
demolishing that； and among many more he delivered one down stroke
which； if Master Pedro had not ducked； made himself small； and got out
of the way； would have sliced off his head as easily as if it had been
made of almond…paste。 Master Pedro kept shouting； 〃Hold hard！ Senor
Don Quixote！ can't you see they're not real Moors you're knocking down
and killing and destroying； but only little pasteboard figures！
Look… sinner that I am！… how you're wrecking and ruining all that
I'm worth！〃 But in spite of this； Don Quixote did not leave off
discharging a continuous rain of cuts； slashes； downstrokes； and
backstrokes； and at length； in less than the space of two credos； he
brought the whole show to the ground； with all its fittings and
figures shivered and knocked to pieces； King Marsilio badly wounded；
and the Emperor Charlemagne with his crown and head split in two。
The whole audience was thrown into confusion； the ape fled to the roof
of the inn； the cousin was frightened； and even Sancho Panza himself
was in mighty fear； for； as he swore after the storm was over； he
had never seen his master in such a furious passion。
The complete destruction of the show being thus accomplished； Don
Quixote became a little calmer； said； 〃I wish I had here before me now
all those who do not or will not believe how useful knights…errant are
in the world； just think； if I had not been here present； what would
have become of the brave Don Gaiferos and the fair Melisendra！
Depend upon it； by this time those dogs would have overtaken them
and inflicted some outrage upon them。 So； then； long live
knight…errantry beyond everything living on earth this day！〃
〃Let it live； and welcome；〃 said Master Pedro at this in a feeble
voice； 〃and let me die； for I am so unfortunate that I can say with
King Don Rodrigo…
Yesterday was I lord of Spain
To…day I've not a turret left
That I may call mine own。
Not half an hour； nay； barely a minute ago； I saw myself lord of kings
and emperors； with my stables filled with countless horses； and my
trunks and bags with gay dresses unnumbered； and now I find myself
ruined and laid low； destitute and a beggar； and above all without
my ape； for； by my faith； my teeth will have to sweat for it before
I have him caught； and all through the reckless fury of sir knight
here； who； they say； protects the fatherless； and rights wrongs； and
does other charitable deeds； but whose generous intentions have been
found wanting in my case only； blessed and praised be the highest
heavens！ Verily； knight of the rueful figure he must be to have
disfigured mine。〃
Sancho Panza was touched by Master Pedro's words； and said to him；
〃Don't weep and lament； Master Pedro； you break my heart； let me
tell you my master； Don Quixote； is so catholic and scrupulous a
Christian that； if he can make out that he has done you any wrong；
he will own it； and be willing to pay for it and make it good； and
something over and above。〃
〃Only let Senor Don Quixote pay me for some part of the work he
has destroyed；〃 said Master Pedro； 〃and I would be content； and his
worship would ease his conscience； for he cannot be saved who keeps
what is another's against the owner's will； and makes no restitution。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but at present I am not aware
that I have got anything of yours； Master Pedro。〃
〃What！〃 returned Master Pedro； 〃and these relics lying here on the
bare hard ground… what scattered and shattered them but the invincible
strength of that mighty arm？ And whose were the bodies they belonged
to but mine？ And what did I get my living by but by them？〃
〃Now am I fully convinced；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃of what I had many
a time before believed； that the enchanters who persecute me do
nothing more than put figures like these before my eyes； and then
change and turn them into what they please。 In truth and earnest； I
assure you gentlemen who now hear me； that to me everything that has
taken place here seemed to take place literally； that Melisendra was
Melisendra； Don Gaiferos Don Gaiferos； Marsilio Marsilio； and
Charlemagne Charlemagne。 That was why my anger was roused； and to be
faithful to my calling as a knight…errant I sought to give aid and
protection to those who fled； and with this good intention I did
what you have seen。 If the result has been the opposite of what I
intended； it is no fault of mine； but of those wicked beings that
persecute me； but； for all that； I am willing to condemn myself in
costs for this error of mine； though it did not proceed from malice；
let Master Pedro see what he wants for the spoiled figures； for I
agree to pay it at once in good and current money of Castile。〃
Master Pedro made him a bow； saying； 〃I expected no less of the rare
Christianity of the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha； true helper
and protector of all destitute and needy vagabonds； master landlord
here and the great Sancho Panza shall be the arbitrators and
appraisers between your worship and me of what these dilapidated
figures are worth or may be worth。〃
The landlord and Sancho consented； and then Master Pedro picked up
from the ground King Marsilio of Saragossa with his head off； and
said； 〃Here you see how impossible it is to restore this king to his
former state； so I think； saving your better judgments； that for his
death； decease； and demise； four reals and a half may be given me。〃
〃Proceed；〃 said Don