“I do not say, Sancho,” replied Don Quixote,
“that it is imperative on knights-errant not
to eat anything else but the fruits thou speakest of;
only that their more usual diet must be those, and
certain herbs they found in the fields which they
knew and I know too.”
“A good thing it is,” answered Sancho,
“to know those herbs, for to my thinking it
will be needful some day to put that knowledge into
practice.”
And here taking out what he said he had brought, the
pair made their repast peaceably and sociably.
But anxious to find quarters for the night, they with
all despatch made an end of their poor dry fare, mounted
at once, and made haste to reach some habitation before
night set in; but daylight and the hope of succeeding
in their object failed them close by the huts of some
goatherds, so they determined to pass the night there,
and it was as much to Sancho’s discontent not
to have reached a house, as it was to his master’s
satisfaction to sleep under the open heaven, for he
fancied that each time this happened to him he performed
an act of ownership that helped to prove his chivalry.
WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE WITH CERTAIN GOATHERDS
He was cordially welcomed by the goatherds, and Sancho,
having as best he could put up Rocinante and the ass,
drew towards the fragrance that came from some pieces
of salted goat simmering in a pot on the fire; and
though he would have liked at once to try if they were
ready to be transferred from the pot to the stomach,
he refrained from doing so as the goatherds removed
them from the fire, and laying sheepskins on the ground,
quickly spread their rude table, and with signs of
hearty good-will invited them both to share what they
had. Round the skins six of the men belonging
to the fold seated themselves, having first with rough
politeness pressed Don Quixote to take a seat upon
a trough which they placed for him upside down.
Don Quixote seated himself, and Sancho remained standing
to serve the cup, which was made of horn. Seeing
him standing, his master said to him:
“That thou mayest see, Sancho, the good that
knight-errantry contains in itself, and how those
who fill any office in it are on the high road to
be speedily honoured and esteemed by the world, I desire
that thou seat thyself here at my side and in the
company of these worthy people, and that thou be one
with me who am thy master and natural lord, and that
thou eat from my plate and drink from whatever I drink
from; for the same may be said of knight-errantry
as of love, that it levels all.”
