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him in his bed for six days； during which he was often visited by
his friends the curate； the bachelor； and the barber； while his good
squire Sancho Panza never quitted his bedside。 They； persuaded that it
was grief at finding himself vanquished； and the object of his
heart； the liberation and disenchantment of Dulcinea； unattained； that
kept him in this state； strove by all the means in their power to
cheer him up； the bachelor bidding him take heart and get up to
begin his pastoral life； for which he himself； he said； had already
composed an eclogue that would take the shine out of all Sannazaro had
ever written； and had bought with his own money two famous dogs to
guard the flock； one called Barcino and the other Butron； which a
herdsman of Quintanar had sold him。
But for all this Don Quixote could not shake off his sadness。 His
friends called in the doctor； who felt his pulse and was not very well
satisfied with it； and said that in any case it would be well for
him to attend to the health of his soul； as that of his body was in
a bad way。 Don Quixote heard this calmly； but not so his
housekeeper； his niece； and his squire； who fell weeping bitterly；
as if they had him lying dead before them。 The doctor's opinion was
that melancholy and depression were bringing him to his end。 Don
Quixote begged them to leave him to himself； as he had a wish to sleep
a little。 They obeyed； and he slept at one stretch； as the saying
is； more than six hours； so that the housekeeper and niece thought
he was going to sleep for ever。 But at the end of that time he woke
up； and in a loud voice exclaimed； 〃Blessed be Almighty God； who has
shown me such goodness。 In truth his mercies are boundless； and the
sins of men can neither limit them nor keep them back！〃
The niece listened with attention to her uncle's words； and they
struck her as more coherent than what usually fell from him； at
least during his illness； so she asked； 〃What are you saying； senor？
Has anything strange occurred？ What mercies or what sins of men are
you talking of？〃
〃The mercies； niece；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃are those that God has this
moment shown me； and with him； as I said； my sins are no impediment to
them。 My reason is now free and clear； rid of the dark shadows of
ignorance that my unhappy constant study of those detestable books
of chivalry cast over it。 Now I see through their absurdities and
deceptions； and it only grieves me that this destruction of my
illusions has come so late that it leaves me no time to make some
amends by reading other books that might be a light to my soul。 Niece；
I feel myself at the point of death； and I would fain meet it in
such a way as to show that my life has not been so ill that I should
leave behind me the name of a madman； for though I have been one； I
would not that the fact should be made plainer at my death。 Call in to
me； my dear； my good friends the curate； the bachelor Samson Carrasco；
and Master Nicholas the barber； for I wish to confess and make my
will。〃 But his niece was saved the trouble by the entrance of the
three。 The instant Don Quixote saw them he exclaimed； 〃Good news for
you； good sirs； that I am no longer Don Quixote of La Mancha； but
Alonso Quixano； whose way of life won for him the name of Good。 Now am
I the enemy of Amadis of Gaul and of the whole countless troop of
his descendants； odious to me now are all the profane stories of
knight…errantry； now I perceive my folly； and the peril into which
reading them brought me； now； by God's mercy schooled into my right
senses； I loathe them。〃
When the three heard him speak in this way； they had no doubt
whatever that some new craze had taken possession of him； and said
Samson； 〃What？ Senor Don Quixote！ Now that we have intelligence of the
lady Dulcinea being disenchanted； are you taking this line； now；
just as we are on the point of becoming shepherds； to pass our lives
singing； like princes； are you thinking of turning hermit？ Hush； for
heaven's sake； be rational and let's have no more nonsense。〃
〃All that nonsense；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that until now has been a
reality to my hurt； my death will； with heaven's help； turn to my
good。 I feel； sirs； that I am rapidly drawing near death； a truce to
jesting； let me have a confessor to confess me； and a notary to make
my will； for in extremities like this； man must not trifle with his
soul； and while the curate is confessing me let some one； I beg； go
for the notary。〃
They looked at one another； wondering at Don Quixote's words； but；
though uncertain； they were inclined to believe him； and one of the
signs by which they came to the conclusion he was dying was this so
sudden and complete return to his senses after having been mad； for to
the words already quoted he added much more； so well expressed； so
devout； and so rational； as to banish all doubt and convince them that
he was sound of mind。 The curate turned them all out； and left alone
with him confessed him。 The bachelor went for the notary and
returned shortly afterwards with him and with Sancho； who； having
already learned from the bachelor the condition his master was in； and
finding the housekeeper and niece weeping； began to blubber and shed
tears。
The confession over； the curate came out saying； 〃Alonso Quixano the
Good is indeed dying； and is indeed in his right mind； we may now go
in to him while he makes his will。〃
This news gave a tremendous impulse to the brimming eyes of the
housekeeper； niece； and Sancho Panza his good squire； making the tears
burst from their eyes and a host of sighs from their hearts； for of
a truth； as has been said more than once； whether as plain Alonso
Quixano the Good； or as Don Quixote of La Mancha； Don Quixote was
always of a gentle disposition and kindly in all his ways； and hence
he was beloved； not only by those of his own house； but by all who
knew him。
The notary came in with the rest； and as soon as the preamble of the
had been set out and Don Quixote had commended his soul to God with
all the devout formalities that are usual； coming to the bequests；
he said； 〃Item； it is my will that； touching certain moneys in the
hands of Sancho Panza （whom in my madness I made my squire）；
inasmuch as between him and me there have been certain accounts and
debits and credits； no claim be made against him； nor any account
demanded of him in respect of them； but that if anything remain over
and above； after he has paid himself what I owe him； the balance；
which will be but little； shall be his； and much good may it do him；
and if； as when I was mad I had a share in giving him the government
of an island； so； now that I am in my senses； I could give him that of
a kingdom； it should be his； for the simplicity of his character and
the fidelity of his conduct deserve it。〃 And then； turning to
Sancho； he said； 〃Forgive me； my friend； that I led thee to seem as
mad as myself； making thee fall into the same error I myself fell
into； that there were and still are knights…errant in the world。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Sancho weeping；