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dismount from Rocinante； because they no doubt had me enchanted； for I
swear to thee by the faith of what I am that if I had been able to
climb up or dismount； I would have avenged thee in such a way that
those braggart thieves would have remembered their freak for ever；
even though in so doing I knew that I contravened the laws of
chivalry； which； as I have often told thee； do not permit a knight
to lay hands on him who is not one； save in case of urgent and great
necessity in defence of his own life and person。〃
〃I would have avenged myself too if I could；〃 said Sancho；
〃whether I had been dubbed knight or not； but I could not； though
for my part I am persuaded those who amused themselves with me were
not phantoms or enchanted men； as your worship says； but men of
flesh and bone like ourselves； and they all had their names； for I
heard them name them when they were tossing me； and one was called
Pedro Martinez； and another Tenorio Hernandez； and the innkeeper； I
heard； was called Juan Palomeque the Left…handed； so that； senor； your
not being able to leap over the wall of the yard or dismount from your
horse came of something else besides enchantments； and what I make out
clearly from all this is； that these adventures we go seeking will
in the end lead us into such misadventures that we shall not know
which is our right foot； and that the best and wisest thing； according
to my small wits； would be for us to return home； now that it is
harvest…time； and attend to our business； and give over wandering from
Zeca to Mecca and from pail to bucket； as the saying is。〃
〃How little thou knowest about chivalry； Sancho；〃 replied Don
Quixote； 〃hold thy peace and have patience； the day will come when
thou shalt see with thine own eyes what an honourable thing it is to
wander in the pursuit of this calling； nay； tell me； what greater
pleasure can there be in the world； or what delight can equal that
of winning a battle； and triumphing over one's enemy？ None； beyond all
doubt。〃
〃Very likely；〃 answered Sancho； 〃though I do not know it； all I know
is that since we have been knights…errant； or since your worship has
been one （for I have no right to reckon myself one of so honourable
a number） we have never won any battle except the one with the
Biscayan； and even out of that your worship car…ne with half an ear
and half a helmet the less； and from that till now it has been all
cudgellings and more cudgellings； cuffs and more cuffs； I getting
the blanketing over and above； and falling in with enchanted persons
on whom I cannot avenge myself so as to know what the delight； as your
worship calls it； of conquering an enemy is like。〃
〃That is what vexes me； and what ought to vex thee； Sancho；〃 replied
Don Quixote； 〃but henceforward I will endeavour to have at hand some
sword made by such craft that no kind of enchantments can take
effect upon him who carries it； and it is even possible that fortune
may procure for me that which belonged to Amadis when he was called
'The Knight of the Burning Sword；' which was one of the best swords
that ever knight in the world possessed； for； besides having the
said virtue； it cut like a razor； and there was no armour； however
strong and enchanted it might be； that could resist it。〃
〃Such is my luck；〃 said Sancho； 〃that even if that happened and your
worship found some such sword； it would； like the balsam； turn out
serviceable and good for dubbed knights only； and as for the
squires； they might sup sorrow。〃
〃Fear not that； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote： 〃Heaven will deal
better by thee。〃
Thus talking； Don Quixote and his squire were going along； when；
on the road they were following； Don Quixote perceived approaching
them a large and thick cloud of dust； on seeing which he turned to
Sancho and said：
〃This is the day； Sancho； on which will be seen the boon my
fortune is reserving for me； this； I say； is the day on which as
much as on any other shall be displayed the might of my arm； and on
which I shall do deeds that shall remain written in the book of fame
for all ages to come。 Seest thou that cloud of dust which rises
yonder？ Well； then； all that is churned up by a vast army composed
of various and countless nations that comes marching there。〃
〃According to that there must be two；〃 said Sancho； 〃for on this
opposite side also there rises just such another cloud of dust。〃
Don Quixote turned to look and found that it was true； and rejoicing
exceedingly； he concluded that they were two armies about to engage
and encounter in the midst of that broad plain； for at all times and
seasons his fancy was full of the battles； enchantments； adventures；
crazy feats； loves； and defiances that are recorded in the books of
chivalry； and everything he said； thought； or did had reference to
such things。 Now the cloud of dust he had seen was raised by two great
droves of sheep coming along the same road in opposite directions；
which； because of the dust； did not become visible until they drew
near； but Don Quixote asserted so positively that they were armies
that Sancho was led to believe it and say； 〃Well； and what are we to
do； senor？〃
〃What？〃 said Don Quixote： 〃give aid and assistance to the weak and
those who need it； and thou must know； Sancho； that this which comes
opposite to us is conducted and led by the mighty emperor Alifanfaron；
lord of the great isle of Trapobana； this other that marches behind me
is that of his enemy the king of the Garamantas； Pentapolin of the
Bare Arm； for he always goes into battle with his right arm bare。〃
〃But why are these two lords such enemies？〃
〃They are at enmity；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃because this Alifanfaron
is a furious pagan and is in love with the daughter of Pentapolin； who
is a very beautiful and moreover gracious lady； and a Christian； and
her father is unwilling to bestow her upon the pagan king unless he
first abandons the religion of his false prophet Mahomet； and adopts
his own。〃
〃By my beard；〃 said Sancho； 〃but Pentapolin does quite right； and
I will help him as much as I can。〃
〃In that thou wilt do what is thy duty； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃for to engage in battles of this sort it is not requisite to be a
dubbed knight。〃
〃That I can well understand；〃 answered Sancho； 〃but where shall we
put this ass where we may be sure to find him after the fray is
over？ for I believe it has not been the custom so far to go into
battle on a beast of this kind。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and what you had best do with him
is to leave him to take his chance whether he be lost or not； for
the horses we shall have when we come out victors will be so many that
even Rocinante will run a risk of being changed for another。 But
attend to me and observe； for I wish to give thee some account of
the chief knights who accompany these two armies； and that thou mayest
the better see and mark； let us withdraw to that hillock which rises
yonder； whence both armies may be seen。〃
They did so； and placed themselves on a rising ground from which the
two droves that Don Quixote made armies of might have been plainly
seen if the clouds of dust they raised had not