made of wood, he could not help giving way and in return
smelling the one who had come to offer him attentions.
But he had hardly moved at all when Don Quixote lost
his footing; and slipping off the saddle, he would
have come to the ground, but for being suspended by
the arm, which caused him such agony that he believed
either his wrist would be cut through or his arm torn
off; and he hung so near the ground that he could
just touch it with his feet, which was all the worse
for him; for, finding how little was wanted to enable
him to plant his feet firmly, he struggled and stretched
himself as much as he could to gain a footing; just
like those undergoing the torture of the strappado,
when they are fixed at “touch and no touch,”
who aggravate their own sufferings by their violent
efforts to stretch themselves, deceived by the hope
which makes them fancy that with a very little more
they will reach the ground.
IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE UNHEARD-OF ADVENTURES OF THE INN
So loud, in fact, were the shouts of Don Quixote,
that the landlord opening the gate of the inn in all
haste, came out in dismay, and ran to see who was
uttering such cries, and those who were outside joined
him. Maritornes, who had been by this time roused
up by the same outcry, suspecting what it was, ran
to the loft and, without anyone seeing her, untied
the halter by which Don Quixote was suspended, and
down he came to the ground in the sight of the landlord
and the travellers, who approaching asked him what
was the matter with him that he shouted so. He
without replying a word took the rope off his wrist,
and rising to his feet leaped upon Rocinante, braced
his buckler on his arm, put his lance in rest, and
making a considerable circuit of the plain came back
at a half-gallop exclaiming:
“Whoever shall say that I have been enchanted
with just cause, provided my lady the Princess Micomicona
grants me permission to do so, I give him the lie,
challenge him and defy him to single combat.”
The newly arrived travellers were amazed at the words
of Don Quixote; but the landlord removed their surprise
by telling them who he was, and not to mind him as
he was out of his senses. They then asked the
landlord if by any chance a youth of about fifteen
years of age had come to that inn, one dressed like
a muleteer, and of such and such an appearance, describing
that of Dona Clara’s lover. The landlord
replied that there were so many people in the inn
he had not noticed the person they were inquiring
for; but one of them observing the coach in which the
Judge had come, said, “He is here no doubt,
for this is the coach he is following: let one
of us stay at the gate, and the rest go in to look
for him; or indeed it would be as well if one of us
went round the inn, lest he should escape over the
wall of the yard.” “So be it,”
said another; and while two of them went in, one remained
at the gate and the other made the circuit of the
inn; observing all which, the landlord was unable to
conjecture for what reason they were taking all these
precautions, though he understood they were looking
for the youth whose description they had given him.
