Sancho Panza, who was wishing the goatherd’s
loquacity at the devil, on his part begged his master
to go into Pedro’s hut to sleep. He did
so, and passed all the rest of the night in thinking
of his lady Dulcinea, in imitation of the lovers of
Marcela. Sancho Panza settled himself between
Rocinante and his ass, and slept, not like a lover
who had been discarded, but like a man who had been
soundly kicked.
IN WHICH IS ENDED THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERDESS MARCELA, WITH OTHER
INCIDENTS
Bit hardly had day begun to show itself through the
balconies of the east, when five of the six goatherds
came to rouse Don Quixote and tell him that if he
was still of a mind to go and see the famous burial
of Chrysostom they would bear him company. Don
Quixote, who desired nothing better, rose and ordered
Sancho to saddle and pannel at once, which he did
with all despatch, and with the same they all set out
forthwith. They had not gone a quarter of a league
when at the meeting of two paths they saw coming towards
them some six shepherds dressed in black sheepskins
and with their heads crowned with garlands of cypress
and bitter oleander. Each of them carried a stout
holly staff in his hand, and along with them there
came two men of quality on horseback in handsome travelling
dress, with three servants on foot accompanying them.
Courteous salutations were exchanged on meeting, and
inquiring one of the other which way each party was
going, they learned that all were bound for the scene
of the burial, so they went on all together.
One of those on horseback addressing his companion
said to him, “It seems to me, Senor Vivaldo,
that we may reckon as well spent the delay we shall
incur in seeing this remarkable funeral, for remarkable
it cannot but be judging by the strange things these
shepherds have told us, of both the dead shepherd
and homicide shepherdess.”
“So I think too,” replied Vivaldo, “and
I would delay not to say a day, but four, for the
sake of seeing it.”
Don Quixote asked them what it was they had heard
of Marcela and Chrysostom. The traveller answered
that the same morning they had met these shepherds,
and seeing them dressed in this mournful fashion they
had asked them the reason of their appearing in such
a guise; which one of them gave, describing the strange
behaviour and beauty of a shepherdess called Marcela,
and the loves of many who courted her, together with
the death of that Chrysostom to whose burial they were
going. In short, he repeated all that Pedro had
related to Don Quixote.
This conversation dropped, and another was commenced
by him who was called Vivaldo asking Don Quixote what
was the reason that led him to go armed in that fashion
in a country so peaceful. To which Don Quixote
replied, “The pursuit of my calling does not
allow or permit me to go in any other fashion; easy
life, enjoyment, and repose were invented for soft
courtiers, but toil, unrest, and arms were invented
and made for those alone whom the world calls knights-errant,
of whom I, though unworthy, am the least of all.”
