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DON QUIXOTE

by Miguel de Cervantes

Translated by John Ormsby

CHAPTER I

WHICH TREATS OF THE CHARACTER AND PURSUITS OF THE FAMOUS GENTLEMAN DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA

In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to recall, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen who keep a lance mounted in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for the chase. His given name was Quixada, or perhaps Quesada, for in this matter the histories vary; though it is probable from his surname that he was called Quexana. But these variations are of little importance to our story; let us only say that in the course of his revenue he did not much exceed four hundred reales a year, and that he was of that class of gentlemen who are called hidalgos.

His household consisted of a housekeeper who was over forty, and a niece who had not yet reached twenty, and a lad who managed the farm and the marketing, and who was nimble enough to saddle the hack and look after the pruning-knife. Our gentleman was, to speak plainly, about fifty years of age; he was of a hardy constitution, spare of body, lean of face, a very early riser and an early friend of the chase. It should be known that the surname I have mentioned—Quexana—was enough to make people think he was of the ancient stock of the Quixadas; but he was determined to revive the memory of that illustrious ancestor. He accordingly styled himself Don Quixote de la Mancha, and gave out that his native place was La Mancha, for he wished to be identified with that celebrated country, as the famous Amadis was with his own Churiana. He had read, or rather devoured, all the books of chivalry that were ever printed. He believed in the truth of every word he read, and in his simple brain he fixed the conviction that there must be in the world some reality of the kind, and that, in these degenerate days, he ought to revive the order of knight-errantry, which he conceived to be lost, to right wrongs, redress grievances, protect the weak, succour the needy, and, in short, to serve his own honour and gain eternal renown.

He sold a part of his land to buy books of chivalry with the remainder, and furnished his entire house in the same style as his ancestors had done; and he confined himself to the study of them until he had sold his fields and even his very house, to have more means for such studies. He got together all the arms he could find, those of his great-grandfathers, battered and rusty, and examining them, he cleaned them as best he could, patched up and re-ironed everything that was wanting. He found, however, that he was sadly lacking in a complete suit of armour and a helmet with a visor, for he had only a headpiece made of pasteboard, which he had gilded afresh. But he made it proof against any sword-thrust by placing a bar of iron inside it. He was still better pleased with his lance; for though it was rusty, his imagination made it equal to the most cunningly forged blades of the Hebrews.

He had his nag, which was more bone than beast, and whose name, when he thought it over, seemed too long and commonplace. So he called himself Don Quixote, and his horse Rocinante, which name struck him as sonorously musical and significant, as that of his steed would be that of the horse of the famed Babieca, the Cid’s charger.

But he was still lacking a lady to whom he might dedicate his exploits, as knights-errant are required to do. He bethought himself that a country girl of his own village had been in love with him a short time ago, and that she was, without knowing it, the mistress of his heart. He resolved to give her a name that would correspond with her station and suit his purpose; so he called her Dulcinea del Toboso, for she was a native of that place, which name seemed to him musical and of profound meaning.

Once equipped and furnished with these great resolves, he felt that he lacked nothing but a squire, for he knew by his reading that squires were essential to knights-errant. He persuaded a labourer from a neighbouring village, a good man enough, but with a very simple wit, to accompany him on this venture, promising him the government of an island. This man, whose name was Sancho Panza, was persuaded by the promise, and readily agreed to become his squire.

Don Quixote now set about getting himself formally dubbed a knight, for he would not allow himself to be classed with those who had got themselves dubbed in a hole-in-the-wall or by an alcayde, like common soldiers. Remembering what he had read on the subject, he determined that the first castle he came to, he would take the first opportunity of receiving knighthood from its lord, in the manner described in the story of Amadis.

CHAPTER II

WHICH TREATS OF THE FIRST SALLY THE INGENIOUS DON QUIXOTE MADE FROM HOME

The very next day, without giving any notice of his intention to anyone in his house, and, in private, taking Sancho Panza with him, Don Quixote sallied forth on his hack Rocinante, fully armed and equipped, without ever having been duly knighted, but in conformity with the notions in his head, and set out to seek adventures. He had scarcely gone a league from his village when he called a halt, for there came into his mind that he had never been formally dubbed a knight, and that, by the laws of chivalry, he could not rightfully draw his sword against any knight whatsoever. He considered that both he and his squire were as yet mere squires, and he resolved that the first opportunity that offered itself should be used to receive the order of knighthood from the first person he met, in the manner described in his books.

This consideration greatly disturbed his mind, but in the present extremity, his desire to right wrongs urged him on, and he continued his journey. As for Sancho Panza, he was perfectly content to accompany him, for he expected to gain an island, and he cared little for anything else.

Don Quixote rode on, his mind full of all the theories of chivalry he had memorized, and as he was thus riding along, he observed that the inn he was approaching was a castle, for such was the appearance of any inn, however mean, to his deranged imagination. He resolved to ask for lodging there that night, and to beg the lord of the castle to dub him a knight.

When he drew near, he saw that the innkeeper stood at the door, and he approached him with great dignity. He dismounted in a manner that showed his skill in horsemanship, though he had not practiced it for a long time. He called to the innkeeper, saying, "Whether you be warden of this fortress or governor of this castle, I beg you to grant me lodging this night, and to furnish me with the things that are necessary for the maintenance of my squi re and myself."

The innkeeper, who was a stout, amusing fellow, though his appearance was rather villainous, answered him, "And what may you be, good sir, asking for lodging in this castle?"

Don Quixote replied, "I am a knight-errant, and my deeds are to protect the world from evil."

The innkeeper, hearing this, could not help laughing, but seeing that the other was in earnest, he replied with a low bow, "It is my duty to serve you, good sir knight; please come in, for Rocinante and my guest, the squire, shall have the best we have in this humble castle."

Don Quixote, taking this for what it was—a piece of rustic courtesy—bowed in return, and bade Sancho Panza lead Rocinante to the stables, and treat him well, for the horse was the best in the world. Sancho, who knew more about stables than about the stars, went to look after him.

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