“That is true,” said Andres; “but
it was of no use.”
“Thou shalt see now whether it is of use or
not,” said Don Quixote; and so saying, he got
up hastily and bade Sancho bridle Rocinante, who was
browsing while they were eating. Dorothea asked
him what he meant to do. He replied that he meant
to go in search of this clown and chastise him for
such iniquitous conduct, and see Andres paid to the
last maravedi, despite and in the teeth of all the
clowns in the world. To which she replied that
he must remember that in accordance with his promise
he could not engage in any enterprise until he had
concluded hers; and that as he knew this better than
anyone, he should restrain his ardour until his return
from her kingdom.
“That is true,” said Don Quixote, “and
Andres must have patience until my return as you say,
senora; but I once more swear and promise not to stop
until I have seen him avenged and paid.”
“I have no faith in those oaths,” said
Andres; “I would rather have now something to
help me to get to Seville than all the revenges in
the world; if you have here anything to eat that I
can take with me, give it me, and God be with your
worship and all knights-errant; and may their errands
turn out as well for themselves as they have for me.”
Sancho took out from his store a piece of bread and
another of cheese, and giving them to the lad he said,
“Here, take this, brother Andres, for we have
all of us a share in your misfortune.”
“Why, what share have you got?”
“This share of bread and cheese I am giving
you,” answered Sancho; “and God knows
whether I shall feel the want of it myself or not;
for I would have you know, friend, that we squires
to knights-errant have to bear a great deal of hunger
and hard fortune, and even other things more easily
felt than told.”
Andres seized his bread and cheese, and seeing that
nobody gave him anything more, bent his head, and
took hold of the road, as the saying is. However,
before leaving he said, “For the love of God,
sir knight-errant, if you ever meet me again, though
you may see them cutting me to pieces, give me no
aid or succour, but leave me to my misfortune, which
will not be so great but that a greater will come to
me by being helped by your worship, on whom and all
the knights-errant that have ever been born God send
his curse.”
Don Quixote was getting up to chastise him, but he
took to his heels at such a pace that no one attempted
to follow him; and mightily chapfallen was Don Quixote
at Andres’ story, and the others had to take
great care to restrain their laughter so as not to
put him entirely out of countenance.
WHICH TREATS OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE’S PARTY AT THE INN
