The Life and Notable Adventures of that Renown'd Knight, Don Quixote De la Mancha Merrily Translated into Hudibrastick Verse. By Edward Ward |
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| XXIX. | CANTO XXIX. |
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 | The Life and Notable Adventures of that Renown'd Knight, Don Quixote De la Mancha |  |
115
CANTO XXIX.
A Fun'ral on the Road by Night
Puts both the Champions in a Fright;
Who, conqu'ring by degrees their Dread,
Attack the Living and the Dead.
Puts both the Champions in a Fright;
Who, conqu'ring by degrees their Dread,
Attack the Living and the Dead.
The Knight and Sancho having quitted
The Plain, before they were benighted,
And got into a Lane together,
That dril'd 'em on they knew not whither,
They now began to talk and prattle
Of Knights and Gyants slain in Battle,
And what rich Kingdoms should be won
Before their fighting Days were done,
'Till Day-light had at length out-run 'em,
And Night began to creep upon 'em,
E'er they had sight, or any sign
Of Castle, Cottage, or of Inn,
Or the least pleasing Hopes of meeting
With Beds for Ease, or Bread for Eating.
The Plain, before they were benighted,
And got into a Lane together,
That dril'd 'em on they knew not whither,
They now began to talk and prattle
Of Knights and Gyants slain in Battle,
And what rich Kingdoms should be won
Before their fighting Days were done,
'Till Day-light had at length out-run 'em,
And Night began to creep upon 'em,
116
Of Castle, Cottage, or of Inn,
Or the least pleasing Hopes of meeting
With Beds for Ease, or Bread for Eating.
Thus on they travel'd, 'till so dark,
They scarce could see one starry Spark:
Their Limbs and Stomachs in a deep
Concern for Want of Food and Sleep:
At length a distant Croud of Lights,
Appear'd unto their wand'ring sights,
As if some Midnight Ghosts or Fairies
Were come abroad to play Figaries:
Poor Sancho, who alas had been
So drub'd by Goblins at the Inn,
Was now again most sadly daunted
To think the Roads were also haunted
With Spirits, or with Moors inchanted.
They scarce could see one starry Spark:
Their Limbs and Stomachs in a deep
Concern for Want of Food and Sleep:
At length a distant Croud of Lights,
Appear'd unto their wand'ring sights,
As if some Midnight Ghosts or Fairies
Were come abroad to play Figaries:
Poor Sancho, who alas had been
So drub'd by Goblins at the Inn,
Was now again most sadly daunted
To think the Roads were also haunted
With Spirits, or with Moors inchanted.
The Knight too had some Dread upon him,
For fear the Sheep, who'd overthrown him
By magick Art, were now again
Transform'd to Troops of Armed Men,
Rally'ng to make a second Fight,
In order to untooth him quite;
So that the Champion check'd his Horse,
And paus'd, whilst Sancho hung an Arse,
Perceiving to their great Surprise
The Lights came nearer to their Eyes,
Which struck 'em both with further Dread,
At e'ery slow Advance they made;
Don Quixote's Hair stood bolt upright,
And Sancho trembled at the sight,
Expecting they were flaming Legions,
Broke loose from their infernal Regions;
And that they now were to withstand
The Force of Lucifer's Train-band:
Thus notwithstanding neither fear'd
The matted Locks of Gyants Beard:
Yet Light, the bright Effects of Fire,
Quite daunted both the Knight and 'Squire,
'Till Quixote much asham'd to think
His Champion Courage thus should sink,
Shook off his Fears that had betray'd
His Valour, and to Sancho said:
For fear the Sheep, who'd overthrown him
117
Transform'd to Troops of Armed Men,
Rally'ng to make a second Fight,
In order to untooth him quite;
So that the Champion check'd his Horse,
And paus'd, whilst Sancho hung an Arse,
Perceiving to their great Surprise
The Lights came nearer to their Eyes,
Which struck 'em both with further Dread,
At e'ery slow Advance they made;
Don Quixote's Hair stood bolt upright,
And Sancho trembled at the sight,
Expecting they were flaming Legions,
Broke loose from their infernal Regions;
And that they now were to withstand
The Force of Lucifer's Train-band:
Thus notwithstanding neither fear'd
The matted Locks of Gyants Beard:
Yet Light, the bright Effects of Fire,
Quite daunted both the Knight and 'Squire,
118
His Champion Courage thus should sink,
Shook off his Fears that had betray'd
His Valour, and to Sancho said:
‘These are a num'rous Host of Sprites,
‘And Goblins arm'd with flaming Lights,
‘Stol'n out from their accurs'd Abode
‘To give us Battle in the Road:
‘This is a perilous Adventure,
‘On which we are about to venture,
‘Yet will I scorn to backward fly,
‘But for the Vict'ry boldly try.
‘And Goblins arm'd with flaming Lights,
‘Stol'n out from their accurs'd Abode
‘To give us Battle in the Road:
‘This is a perilous Adventure,
‘On which we are about to venture,
‘Yet will I scorn to backward fly,
‘But for the Vict'ry boldly try.
Ah Woe is me, reply'd the 'Squire,
Must we fight Devils arm'd with Fire,
And after all the Drubs we've had,
Be now so daring and so mad
To battle Furies with their Torches,
And run the Risque of Burns and Scorches.
Must we fight Devils arm'd with Fire,
And after all the Drubs we've had,
Be now so daring and so mad
To battle Furies with their Torches,
And run the Risque of Burns and Scorches.
‘Chear up, Friend Sancho, quoth the Don,
‘Fear nothing, let the Imps come on,
‘Whilst I am here, they shall not dare
‘To singe or rob thee of a Hair;
‘Therefore take heart, and thou shalt find
‘We'll make the Æreals fly like Wind.
‘Fear nothing, let the Imps come on,
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‘To singe or rob thee of a Hair;
‘Therefore take heart, and thou shalt find
‘We'll make the Æreals fly like Wind.
The thoughts of fighting, quoth the 'Squire,
Makes me all Ice, instead of Fire;
But I shall soon, I do suppose,
Be thaw'd by these infernal Foes;
Yet if we're forc'd to stand the Brunt
I'll do my best what e'er comes on't:
For tho' I am so free to tell you,
That I am really apt to value
My own, above a thousand Lives,
Yet needs must when the Dev'l drives.
Makes me all Ice, instead of Fire;
But I shall soon, I do suppose,
Be thaw'd by these infernal Foes;
Yet if we're forc'd to stand the Brunt
I'll do my best what e'er comes on't:
For tho' I am so free to tell you,
That I am really apt to value
My own, above a thousand Lives,
Yet needs must when the Dev'l drives.
By now the solemn Cavalcade
Their slow Approach so near had made,
That Knight and 'Squire discover'd plain
The very ghastly frightful Train,
And wisely from the Road withdrew
To give their Eyes a better View.
I'th' Van were twenty Souls in white,
On Horse-back bearing each a Light,
Some mumbling Pray'rs in doleful Tones,
And others breathing out their Groans:
I'th' Center came a mourning Herse,
Drawn by six black Galician Mares;
Which, as it mov'd, t'encrease their Wonder,
Rumbl'd like distant rowling Thunder:
Six Mourners in the Reer came on,
Hanging their Heads like Poppies down,
Each gravely mounted on the Back
Of a Mule, cover'd o'er with black;
A dismal sight, enough to've scar'd
The stoutest he that wears a Beard,
Especially at Night when met
In such a lonely place so late;
But Quixote, mad as well as bold,
With the strange Tales he'd read of old,
Mistook the Herse, when he had seen it,
To be a Horse-litter, and in it
Some wounded Prince, or famous Knight,
Ta'en Captive by his Foes in Fight,
Thought therefore he could do no less
Than rescu' a Brother in Distress;
Accordingly he couch'd his Lance,
And did with eager Warmth advance
Unto their Noses, where he stood,
And thus like an undaunted God
He spoke, altho' but Flesh and Blood.
Their slow Approach so near had made,
That Knight and 'Squire discover'd plain
The very ghastly frightful Train,
And wisely from the Road withdrew
To give their Eyes a better View.
120
On Horse-back bearing each a Light,
Some mumbling Pray'rs in doleful Tones,
And others breathing out their Groans:
I'th' Center came a mourning Herse,
Drawn by six black Galician Mares;
Which, as it mov'd, t'encrease their Wonder,
Rumbl'd like distant rowling Thunder:
Six Mourners in the Reer came on,
Hanging their Heads like Poppies down,
Each gravely mounted on the Back
Of a Mule, cover'd o'er with black;
A dismal sight, enough to've scar'd
The stoutest he that wears a Beard,
Especially at Night when met
In such a lonely place so late;
But Quixote, mad as well as bold,
With the strange Tales he'd read of old,
Mistook the Herse, when he had seen it,
To be a Horse-litter, and in it
121
Ta'en Captive by his Foes in Fight,
Thought therefore he could do no less
Than rescu' a Brother in Distress;
Accordingly he couch'd his Lance,
And did with eager Warmth advance
Unto their Noses, where he stood,
And thus like an undaunted God
He spoke, altho' but Flesh and Blood.
‘Stand, I command ye, and declare
‘What you're about, and who you are?
‘From whence you came, and tell me what
‘Great Knight you've in that Litter got;
‘What Wrongs your Party have receiv'd,
‘Or who you've injur'd and aggriev'd;
‘Then shall I quickly let you know
‘Whether I am a Friend or Foe.
‘What you're about, and who you are?
‘From whence you came, and tell me what
‘Great Knight you've in that Litter got;
‘What Wrongs your Party have receiv'd,
‘Or who you've injur'd and aggriev'd;
‘Then shall I quickly let you know
‘Whether I am a Friend or Foe.
Sir, we're in Haste, cryes one in white,
Our Inn's far off, 'tis late at Night,
We cannot stay to answer all
These Questions that your Tongue lets fall:
And when he'd spoke, was spurring on
His Nag, in order to be gone;
But Quixote angry at his Answer
Catch'd hold o'th' Bridle of his Prancer,
And stop'd the Rider's Speed at once
To have a more compleat Response;
Crying, ‘Thou proud discourteous Knight,
‘Pray stay, and let me know the right
‘Of all things I have ask'd, or by
‘This Arm you shall this Instant dye.
Our Inn's far off, 'tis late at Night,
122
These Questions that your Tongue lets fall:
And when he'd spoke, was spurring on
His Nag, in order to be gone;
But Quixote angry at his Answer
Catch'd hold o'th' Bridle of his Prancer,
And stop'd the Rider's Speed at once
To have a more compleat Response;
Crying, ‘Thou proud discourteous Knight,
‘Pray stay, and let me know the right
‘Of all things I have ask'd, or by
‘This Arm you shall this Instant dye.
Whilst thus Don Quixote had his Hand
O'th' Rein, to make the Gennet stand,
He being young and apt to kick,
Rose upright on his hinder Feet,
And flounc'd about until he'd thrown
His ghost-like Rider headlong down;
At sight of which some more came on,
And gave ill Language to the Don,
Which so incens'd him that he spur'd
His Horse, and drew his Nut-brown Sword,
And madly riding in among
The white-look'd solemn mournful Throng,
So laid about him, that the Knight
Put all the Cavalcade to flight,
Excepting one he had o'erthrown,
Who'd broke i'th' Fall his Ankle-bone;
Some scowring back most sadly frighted,
Some forward with their Torches lighted;
Some cloath'd in black, and some in white,
Like Spirits wandring in the Night,
Or Jack a Lanthorns often found
Dancing about in Moory Ground;
Fancying the Dev'l himself was come
To seize the Corps, and carry't home;
Therefore they very wisely fled
To part the Living from the dead;
For fear old Sathan in his Wrath
Should lay infernal Hands on both.
O'th' Rein, to make the Gennet stand,
He being young and apt to kick,
Rose upright on his hinder Feet,
And flounc'd about until he'd thrown
His ghost-like Rider headlong down;
At sight of which some more came on,
And gave ill Language to the Don,
123
His Horse, and drew his Nut-brown Sword,
And madly riding in among
The white-look'd solemn mournful Throng,
So laid about him, that the Knight
Put all the Cavalcade to flight,
Excepting one he had o'erthrown,
Who'd broke i'th' Fall his Ankle-bone;
Some scowring back most sadly frighted,
Some forward with their Torches lighted;
Some cloath'd in black, and some in white,
Like Spirits wandring in the Night,
Or Jack a Lanthorns often found
Dancing about in Moory Ground;
Fancying the Dev'l himself was come
To seize the Corps, and carry't home;
Therefore they very wisely fled
To part the Living from the dead;
For fear old Sathan in his Wrath
Should lay infernal Hands on both.
124
Poor Sancho stood amaz'd to find
The God of War so wondrous kind,
As to bestow upon his Master
A Victory without Disaster;
So that he now could do no less
Than judge the Knight, by his Success,
To be that very Lord knows what,
His Worship wanted to be thought.
The God of War so wondrous kind,
As to bestow upon his Master
A Victory without Disaster;
So that he now could do no less
Than judge the Knight, by his Success,
To be that very Lord knows what,
His Worship wanted to be thought.
When thus the Don, by Words and Blows,
Had routed all his mourning Foes,
And ready was, like Grecian Younker,
To weep for want of more to conquer;
At length in riding up and down
To see what Heaps he'd overthrown,
By Light of scatter'd Torch he found
A groaning Victim on the Ground;
Whom he no sooner spy'd, but put
His pointed Lance unto his Throat,
And with a bold tremendous Voice,
Cry'd, ‘Yield or dye Wretch, take thy Choice.
Had routed all his mourning Foes,
And ready was, like Grecian Younker,
To weep for want of more to conquer;
At length in riding up and down
To see what Heaps he'd overthrown,
By Light of scatter'd Torch he found
A groaning Victim on the Ground;
Whom he no sooner spy'd, but put
His pointed Lance unto his Throat,
And with a bold tremendous Voice,
Cry'd, ‘Yield or dye Wretch, take thy Choice.
125
Have Mercy, quoth the Foe, good Sir;
I needs must yield, that cannot stir;
I've broke my Leg, and hurt my Arm,
I cannot rise to do you Harm;
If therefore you're a Christian Knight
I hope you will not kill me quite:
Consider, I'm in holy Orders;
And 'twould be deem'd the worst of Murders
To stab a Priest, that means no Hurt,
As he lyes crippl'd in the Dirt.
I needs must yield, that cannot stir;
I've broke my Leg, and hurt my Arm,
I cannot rise to do you Harm;
If therefore you're a Christian Knight
I hope you will not kill me quite:
Consider, I'm in holy Orders;
And 'twould be deem'd the worst of Murders
To stab a Priest, that means no Hurt,
As he lyes crippl'd in the Dirt.
‘How, quoth the Don, a Guide o'th' Church,
‘And travelling by Light of Torch;
‘A Priest, d'ye say, an holy Father;
‘Why what the Devil brought thee hither?
‘And travelling by Light of Torch;
‘A Priest, d'ye say, an holy Father;
‘Why what the Devil brought thee hither?
Nought, cry'd the Scholar, of a certain,
Could bring me hither but ill Fortune.
Could bring me hither but ill Fortune.
‘A worse, replies the Knight, hangs over
‘Thy Head, unless thou wilt discover
‘The downright truth of all that I
‘Vouchsafe to ask thee by and by.
‘Thy Head, unless thou wilt discover
‘The downright truth of all that I
‘Vouchsafe to ask thee by and by.
126
I will Sir, quoth the Priest, this Minute,
And tell your Worship all that's in it;
I'm a poor Priest of Alcovendas,
Who, with Eleven more God mend us,
Came from Baeca to attend
The Corps of a deceased Friend,
Which to Sagovia we were hurrying
This Night to give him Christian Burying.
And tell your Worship all that's in it;
I'm a poor Priest of Alcovendas,
Who, with Eleven more God mend us,
Came from Baeca to attend
The Corps of a deceased Friend,
Which to Sagovia we were hurrying
This Night to give him Christian Burying.
‘About what Lady did he fight,
‘And pray who kill'd him, quoth the Knight?
‘And pray who kill'd him, quoth the Knight?
Heav'n, quoth the Parson, with a Fever,
None else, as I'm a true Believer.
None else, as I'm a true Believer.
‘Then replies Quixote, since the Lord
‘Dispatch'd him, I shall sheath my Sword;
‘I have no Bus'ness with his Death,
‘Or to revenge his Loss of Breath;
‘Since 'tis appointed, you and I,
‘And all, as well as he, must dye:
‘I therefore have but little more
‘To say at present, Reverend Sir;
‘Which is, remember I inform you,
‘If any Person wrong or harm you,
‘That I'm the bold La Mancha Knight,
‘Don Quixote, bound to do you Right:
‘I range the World from East to West,
‘To save and comfort the distress'd,
‘Protect fair Maids from cruel Dragons,
‘And rescue Christian Knights from Pagans,
‘Punish Oppression, daily seek
‘Revenge of those, that wrong the weak,
‘And ride thus arm'd in the Defence
‘Of helpless injur'd Innocence.
‘Dispatch'd him, I shall sheath my Sword;
‘I have no Bus'ness with his Death,
‘Or to revenge his Loss of Breath;
‘Since 'tis appointed, you and I,
‘And all, as well as he, must dye:
‘I therefore have but little more
‘To say at present, Reverend Sir;
127
‘If any Person wrong or harm you,
‘That I'm the bold La Mancha Knight,
‘Don Quixote, bound to do you Right:
‘I range the World from East to West,
‘To save and comfort the distress'd,
‘Protect fair Maids from cruel Dragons,
‘And rescue Christian Knights from Pagans,
‘Punish Oppression, daily seek
‘Revenge of those, that wrong the weak,
‘And ride thus arm'd in the Defence
‘Of helpless injur'd Innocence.
And does your Worship, cryes the Priest,
Approve these Methods as the best?
Are breaking Peoples Legs and Arms
The way to rescue 'em from Harms?
And hazarding the Necks of those,
That are not able to oppose
Your strength, the Measures that you take
Of doing Justice to the Weak?
Lord keep me always at a distance
From your good Worship's kind Assistance.
Approve these Methods as the best?
Are breaking Peoples Legs and Arms
The way to rescue 'em from Harms?
And hazarding the Necks of those,
That are not able to oppose
Your strength, the Measures that you take
Of doing Justice to the Weak?
128
From your good Worship's kind Assistance.
‘You did not, quoth the Don, do right
‘To be abroad so late at Night,
‘In Mourning some, and some in white,
‘Marching with Torches in your Hands,
‘Like Furies with their fiery Brands,
‘Or kindl'd Vapours dancing round
‘The Bogs and Dikes of marshy Ground:
‘Therefore whatever I have done,
‘Or you sustain'd, the Fault's your own.
‘To be abroad so late at Night,
‘In Mourning some, and some in white,
‘Marching with Torches in your Hands,
‘Like Furies with their fiery Brands,
‘Or kindl'd Vapours dancing round
‘The Bogs and Dikes of marshy Ground:
‘Therefore whatever I have done,
‘Or you sustain'd, the Fault's your own.
Well Sir, reply'd the groaning Levite,
Since it must be as you would have it,
And you're so gen'rous and great
A Friend to the Unfortunate,
I hope you'll mount me safe upon
My Mule, from whence you've thrown me down.
Since it must be as you would have it,
And you're so gen'rous and great
A Friend to the Unfortunate,
I hope you'll mount me safe upon
My Mule, from whence you've thrown me down.
‘It shall be done, Don Quixote said,
‘Who then call'd Sancho to his Aid:
But the poor 'Squire was so employ'd
About a Sumpter he'd unty'd,
Which by kind Fortune prov'd a Load
Of choice Provisions, costly Food,
To feast the Priests upon the Road,
That he obey'd no verbal Summons,
He was so busy with his Commons,
'Till he had first well stuff'd his Gullet,
Then spread his Coat instead of Wallet;
Which, when he'd fill'd with Bits most dainty,
He bound on's Ass like a Port-Manteau,
And then he ran unto his Master
To help the Priest in this Disaster,
Who, 'twixt the Champion and his Squire,
Was mounted to his Heart's Desire.
‘Who then call'd Sancho to his Aid:
129
About a Sumpter he'd unty'd,
Which by kind Fortune prov'd a Load
Of choice Provisions, costly Food,
To feast the Priests upon the Road,
That he obey'd no verbal Summons,
He was so busy with his Commons,
'Till he had first well stuff'd his Gullet,
Then spread his Coat instead of Wallet;
Which, when he'd fill'd with Bits most dainty,
He bound on's Ass like a Port-Manteau,
And then he ran unto his Master
To help the Priest in this Disaster,
Who, 'twixt the Champion and his Squire,
Was mounted to his Heart's Desire.
Now Sir, quoth Sancho, to the Priest,
If you would know who 'tis that drest
Your Hide, and theirs that run away,
Because they wisely fear'd to stay,
Know that my Name is Sancho Panca,
My Lord's Don Quixote de la Mancha,
Call'd in Spain, Italy and France,
The Knight o'th' woeful Countenance.
If you would know who 'tis that drest
Your Hide, and theirs that run away,
Because they wisely fear'd to stay,
Know that my Name is Sancho Panca,
My Lord's Don Quixote de la Mancha,
130
The Knight o'th' woeful Countenance.
No sooner was the crippl'd Priest
Gone off upon his skittish Beast,
But the victorious Knight began
T'enquire most gravely of his Man,
How he at such a Juncture came
To give him such an awful Name.
Gone off upon his skittish Beast,
But the victorious Knight began
T'enquire most gravely of his Man,
How he at such a Juncture came
To give him such an awful Name.
Quoth Sancho, if you'd know the Cause,
To tell you truth, your Lockrum Jaws
For want of Teeth so thin appear'd,
Set off with such a frowzy Beard,
And your stern Countenance, by Light
Of Torch, look'd so amazing white,
That I, who knew you, was almost
Convinc'd you were some grinning Ghost:
Thence to your Fame did I advance
Knight of the woeful Countenance:
A Title, that so well agrees
At present with your frightful Phiz,
That all may read it in your Face,
If they but view your Market place.
To tell you truth, your Lockrum Jaws
For want of Teeth so thin appear'd,
Set off with such a frowzy Beard,
And your stern Countenance, by Light
Of Torch, look'd so amazing white,
That I, who knew you, was almost
Convinc'd you were some grinning Ghost:
Thence to your Fame did I advance
Knight of the woeful Countenance:
A Title, that so well agrees
At present with your frightful Phiz,
131
If they but view your Market place.
‘There's something more, replies the Don,
‘In this, than thou hast touch'd upon;
‘That learn'd Historian, who is proud,
‘To shew the World my Fortitude,
‘And to preserve my Fame, records
‘The gallant Deeds my Life affords,
‘By magick Art most surely wrought
‘In thy dull Brains this Noble Thought,
‘That this Addition to my Name
‘May Wizards fright, and Gyants tame,
‘And cause me to be dreaded more
‘Than any Knight in times of yore:
‘Therefore henceforward will I claim
‘This Title, whencesoe'er it came,
‘And proudly arrogate the same.
‘In this, than thou hast touch'd upon;
‘That learn'd Historian, who is proud,
‘To shew the World my Fortitude,
‘And to preserve my Fame, records
‘The gallant Deeds my Life affords,
‘By magick Art most surely wrought
‘In thy dull Brains this Noble Thought,
‘That this Addition to my Name
‘May Wizards fright, and Gyants tame,
‘And cause me to be dreaded more
‘Than any Knight in times of yore:
‘Therefore henceforward will I claim
‘This Title, whencesoe'er it came,
‘And proudly arrogate the same.
‘Also upon my Shield I'll bear
‘A Hatchet-face with frizzl'd Hair,
‘And glaring Eyes, enough to fright
‘The most undaunted daring Knight;
‘That my Device may show who 'tis
‘Displays so terrible a Phiz.
‘A Hatchet-face with frizzl'd Hair,
‘And glaring Eyes, enough to fright
‘The most undaunted daring Knight;
132
‘Displays so terrible a Phiz.
In troth, quoth Sancho, you may spare
The Cost of Painting; for I'll swear
No Artist can with Pencil shew
So horrible a Face as you;
Therefore if you'll expose your own,
'Tis wrong to have another drawn;
For your Foes sooner will be daunted
With that, than twenty Devils painted.
The Cost of Painting; for I'll swear
No Artist can with Pencil shew
So horrible a Face as you;
Therefore if you'll expose your own,
'Tis wrong to have another drawn;
For your Foes sooner will be daunted
With that, than twenty Devils painted.
The Knight, well pleas'd with the Conceit,
Applauded Sancho for his Wit,
But still resolv'd his Shield should be
Adorn'd with some strange Phisnomy.
Applauded Sancho for his Wit,
But still resolv'd his Shield should be
Adorn'd with some strange Phisnomy.
When they were tir'd with this Discourse,
The Don propos'd to search the Herse,
Lest some young Captive Lady fair,
Or wounded Victim should be there,
That might in their Distress require
Th' Assistance of the Knight and 'Squire:
But Sancho, who was over joy'd
To think how well he'd been imploy'd,
Car'd not for hazarding the Pack
He'd laid upon his Ass's Back,
By reaping more victorious Lawrels
In any further Broils or Quarrels;
Therefore enforc'd with all his Sence
The following cogent Arguments.
The Don propos'd to search the Herse,
Lest some young Captive Lady fair,
Or wounded Victim should be there,
That might in their Distress require
Th' Assistance of the Knight and 'Squire:
133
To think how well he'd been imploy'd,
Car'd not for hazarding the Pack
He'd laid upon his Ass's Back,
By reaping more victorious Lawrels
In any further Broils or Quarrels;
Therefore enforc'd with all his Sence
The following cogent Arguments.
Consider Sir, that we've been under
No Drubbing yet, and that's a Wonder;
But should we tarry to examine
The Herse for Captive Knights or Women,
The Foe may think it shame to run,
On second Thoughts, away from one,
And rally with their utmost Force,
By that time we have search'd the Herse;
Then may we lose what we have got,
And be perhaps well drub'd to boot;
Therefore be rul'd by what I say;
Let us move on out of Harms Way;
And not forsake, when things go well,
The Plow to catch a Mouse by th' Tail;
But to the Grave resign the dead,
And let the living eat their Bread.
No Drubbing yet, and that's a Wonder;
But should we tarry to examine
The Herse for Captive Knights or Women,
The Foe may think it shame to run,
On second Thoughts, away from one,
And rally with their utmost Force,
By that time we have search'd the Herse;
Then may we lose what we have got,
And be perhaps well drub'd to boot;
Therefore be rul'd by what I say;
Let us move on out of Harms Way;
134
The Plow to catch a Mouse by th' Tail;
But to the Grave resign the dead,
And let the living eat their Bread.
When Sancho thus had made his Speech,
Upon his Ass he clap'd his Breech,
And trotted on a little faster
Than usual after him his Master,
Who did without Capitulation
Give way to Sancho's Wise Oration,
And making no Reply approv'd
With Silence what the 'Squire had mov'd.
Upon his Ass he clap'd his Breech,
And trotted on a little faster
Than usual after him his Master,
Who did without Capitulation
Give way to Sancho's Wise Oration,
And making no Reply approv'd
With Silence what the 'Squire had mov'd.
Thus the proud Victor and his Man
Jogg'd on as great as Cup and Can,
'Till to a Vale of pleasant Fields
They came, that lay between two Hills,
Where Sancho and the hungry Knight,
Tho' dark, thought proper to alight,
And to refresh their Bodies under
A Hedge, with some of Sancho's Plunder,
Which to their Comfort prov'd the best
Of costly Meats, that could be dress'd;
For all Men know, that 'tis the Care
Of Priests to feed on dainty Fare.
No time was lost on either side;
Now both like Gluttons fed 'till cloy'd;
But as good Luck does seldom fail
Of some ill Fortune at its Tail;
When they had eat three Meals in one,
They had no Wine to wash it down,
But now with Thirst were plagu'd much more,
Than they with Hunger were before;
However Sancho, as he sat,
Finding the Grass a little wet,
Cry'd to the Knight, For certain here
Must be some Spring, or River near;
Therefore, good Sir, let's look about,
That we may find some Water out,
To quench this Drought, that plagues our Throats
Much worse than Hunger did our Guts.
Jogg'd on as great as Cup and Can,
'Till to a Vale of pleasant Fields
They came, that lay between two Hills,
Where Sancho and the hungry Knight,
Tho' dark, thought proper to alight,
And to refresh their Bodies under
A Hedge, with some of Sancho's Plunder,
135
Of costly Meats, that could be dress'd;
For all Men know, that 'tis the Care
Of Priests to feed on dainty Fare.
No time was lost on either side;
Now both like Gluttons fed 'till cloy'd;
But as good Luck does seldom fail
Of some ill Fortune at its Tail;
When they had eat three Meals in one,
They had no Wine to wash it down,
But now with Thirst were plagu'd much more,
Than they with Hunger were before;
However Sancho, as he sat,
Finding the Grass a little wet,
Cry'd to the Knight, For certain here
Must be some Spring, or River near;
Therefore, good Sir, let's look about,
That we may find some Water out,
To quench this Drought, that plagues our Throats
Much worse than Hunger did our Guts.
136
The Knight, well pleas'd with the Advice,
From his Grass Cusheon did arise,
And by the Bridle tug'd his Horse,
Who follow'd at his Rider's Arse,
Whilst Sancho by the Halter led
His Tit, and walk'd before his Head;
Thus up and down they rang'd the Field,
In hopes it might some River yield,
'Till to their Joy they heard the roaring
Of Waters, like a Cat'ract pouring
From off some lofty Rock into
Some shallow Stream, that lay below;
But as they listen'd to the same,
To judge which way the Murmurs came,
A strange surprizing Noise they found
Was mix'd with t'other grateful Sound;
Loud Blows they heard, and e'ery Stroak
Kept time and measure like a Clock,
Whilst rat'ling Chains encreas'd their Fears,
And terrify'd their frighted Ears;
Astonish'd now 'twixt Thump and Clink
They stood, and knew not what to think,
Pleas'd with the Sound of falling Waters,
But scar'd with Iron Links and Fetters;
Especially the 'Squire, whose Blood
Grew chill and frozen, as he stood,
That his Teeth chatter'd in his Mouth,
And pannick Fear allay'd his Drowth;
Whilst Quixote, tho' so valiant, found
His Courage almost run a ground;
That both the Heroes wise and wary
Stood pausing in a great Quandary.
From his Grass Cusheon did arise,
And by the Bridle tug'd his Horse,
Who follow'd at his Rider's Arse,
Whilst Sancho by the Halter led
His Tit, and walk'd before his Head;
Thus up and down they rang'd the Field,
In hopes it might some River yield,
'Till to their Joy they heard the roaring
Of Waters, like a Cat'ract pouring
From off some lofty Rock into
Some shallow Stream, that lay below;
But as they listen'd to the same,
To judge which way the Murmurs came,
A strange surprizing Noise they found
Was mix'd with t'other grateful Sound;
Loud Blows they heard, and e'ery Stroak
Kept time and measure like a Clock,
Whilst rat'ling Chains encreas'd their Fears,
And terrify'd their frighted Ears;
137
They stood, and knew not what to think,
Pleas'd with the Sound of falling Waters,
But scar'd with Iron Links and Fetters;
Especially the 'Squire, whose Blood
Grew chill and frozen, as he stood,
That his Teeth chatter'd in his Mouth,
And pannick Fear allay'd his Drowth;
Whilst Quixote, tho' so valiant, found
His Courage almost run a ground;
That both the Heroes wise and wary
Stood pausing in a great Quandary.
The Brave, when any Danger's near,
By thinking wisely conquer Fear,
Whilst Cow'rds, for want of judging right,
Are oft by Shadows put to flight.
By thinking wisely conquer Fear,
Whilst Cow'rds, for want of judging right,
Are oft by Shadows put to flight.
| The Life and Notable Adventures of that Renown'd Knight, Don Quixote De la Mancha | |