Jordan Oates's Key Ideas from Don Quixote - Original Version
by Miguel de Cervantes

 "'Your worship must know, señor Don Quixote,' said Sancho, 'that there is a book about you already written.'"

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 "'And who is the author of this book?' asked Don Quixote."

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 "'I heard it said that it was a certain Cid Hamete Benengeli,'" replied Sancho.

 "'Know, señor Don Quixote,' said Samson Carrasco, 'that the history of your great deeds is already printed.'"

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 "'And the author of it is Cid Hamete Benengeli, an Arabic historian.'"

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 "'But there are some things in it,' added the bachelor, 'which, to my mind, are not quite as they should be.'"

"'That must be the wisdom of the author,' said Sancho, 'to put down everything just as it happened.'"

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 "'But one of the greatest faults they find with this history,' said the bachelor, 'is that the author has put in a great many foolish sayings of your squire Sancho.'"

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 "'Well, señor,' said Sancho, 'if I have said any foolish things, it has been without meaning to do so.'"

"'It is clear to me, Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'that this historian, whoever he may be, is no Moor, but a Christian, and a very wise one.'"

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 "'For he describes our thoughts and deeds as if they had passed before his very eyes.'"

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 "'Therefore, Sancho, we must make haste to become famous in deeds, so that this historian may have something fresh to write about.'"

"'Let us go and see whether our Don Quixote has returned to his old studies,'" said the curate.

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 "They found him in his bed, and round about him were some half-dozen books open."

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 "'What are these books, señor Don Quixote?' asked the curate."

 "'The time has come, Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'for us to set out again.'"

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 "'For my part,' said Sancho, 'I am ready whenever your worship pleases.'"

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 "'But your worship must remember the promise you made me about the governorship.'"

 "'Look, Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'here comes a strange adventure.'"

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 "For there came along the road some twelve men on horseback, disguised as devils."

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 "'Wait for me, my sons,' cried Don Quixote, 'for I come to set you free.'"

 "'These are not devils, nor are they what they seem, but some strolling players who are performing a masquerade.'"

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 "'Truly,' said Sancho, 'your worship is always finding out the rights of things, however disguised they may be.'"

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 "'That is because I am a knight-errant,' replied Don Quixote, 'whose duty it is to see that there is no deceit or trickery in the world.'"

 "They overtook a cart full of the strangest and most diverse figures that could be imagined."

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 "'Look, Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'here comes a company of players.'"

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 "And without saying another word, Don Quixote planted himself before the cart, and with a bold and resolute voice said, 'Halt, everyone!'"

 "There came along the road a countryman mounted on a good-looking mare, and carrying a halberd."

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 "'Stand, discourteous knight!' cried Don Quixote."

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 "The countryman, without saying a word, brought down his halberd with such force that he broke Don Quixote's lance in two."

 "Suddenly they saw coming along the same road two men on horseback, one of whom wore a mirror on his breast."

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 "'The knight whose face you see reflected there is the most valiant and best-favoured in the world.'"

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 "'I maintain,' replied the Knight of the Mirrors, 'that my lady is without any comparison more beautiful than yours.'"

 "'Tell me, brother squire,' said the Mirror Knight's man, 'what is your master's business in these parts?'"

 "'To undo wrongs and right injuries, as is the way of knights-errant,'" replied Sancho.

 "'By my faith,' said the other, 'your master must have a very weak understanding if he takes windmills for giants.'"

 "And without further parley they spurred their horses and charged at each other at full speed."

 "But the Knight of the Mirrors, whose horse was fleeter, met Don Quixote halfway and overthrew him without touching him."

 "'I am vanquished, and by my lady's beauty, I am bound to obey your will for a year.'"

 "'Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'I am the most unfortunate knight in the world.'"

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 "'Courage, master,' said Sancho, 'bad luck today, good luck tomorrow.'"

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 "'You must know, Sancho, that it is not always valor that wins battles, but sometimes chance and fortune.'"

 "They saw a cart on the road, and on top of it was a cage, and in the cage were two fierce lions."

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 "'Look, Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'here comes the king of the beasts.'"

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 "The lion yawned and stretched himself, and then, putting out his tongue, licked the dust out of his eyes, and lay down again."

 "They saw a goodly castle, and Don Quixote, according to his custom, took it for one of the best in the world."

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 "The lord of the castle was a grave gentleman, of about fifty years of age."

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 "'Your worship is welcome to this my poor abode,' said Don Diego."

 "'It seems to me, señor Don Quixote,' said Don Diego, 'that your profession is one that requires great courage and strength.'"

 "'It does indeed,' replied Don Quixote, 'and it also requires great courtesy and politeness.'"

 "Don Diego had a son, a student, who was fond of poetry."

"There came riding up to the castle four damsels in mourning attire."

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 "'We have come, señor knight,' said one of them, 'to seek your aid in a matter of great importance.'"

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 "They carried with them a figure covered with a veil, which they said was the enchanted head."

 "Don Quixote approached the head, and asked, in a low voice, 'Tell me, by the virtue that is in you, whether I shall succeed in my present enterprise?'"

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 "The voice replied, without any movement of the lips, 'You shall succeed.'"

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 "'I ask you further,' said Don Quixote, 'whether my squire Sancho shall ever be a governor?'"

"'Now we shall see,' said Don Quixote, 'whether I am as brave as I seem.'"

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 "But the lion, being nowise valiant or ferocious, merely turned about, and after looking at Don Quixote, quietly lay down again."

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 "'A fine lion-tamer your worship is!' said Sancho."

"They came to the same inn where the adventure of the enchanted head had taken place."

 "The two gentlemen who had been with the head were there."

 "They recognized Don Quixote and Sancho, and received them with great courtesy."

 "The history relates that Don Quixote slept that night soundly, and Sancho not so well."

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 "The next day they took their leave of the gentlemen, and continued their journey."

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 "Don Quixote asked Sancho what he thought of the two gentlemen."

 "They heard a great braying of asses, and Don Quixote said, 'That braying, Sancho, is a bad sign.'"

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 "They came upon a man leading a cart, in which were some monkeys."

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 "And there was also a puppet-player, who gave a very diverting show."

 "Don Quixote could not endure the injustice that seemed to be done to the puppet Melisendra."

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 "And with a bound he sprang upon the stage, and with his drawn sword began to cut and slash at the Moorish puppets."

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 "All the puppets were soon headless and armless."

 "'I am Master Pedro,' said the puppet-player, 'and this is my ape, which is the most wonderful ape in the world.'"

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 "The ape leaped upon Don Quixote's shoulder, and began to chatter in his ear."

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 "Don Quixote, hearing the braying again, said, 'It seems to me, Sancho, that the distressed person is still crying out for help.'"

 "Cid Hamete Benengeli, the accurate chronicler of this great history, relates that Don Quixote, on his way to Toboso, fell in with two peasants."

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 "'Look, your worship,' said Sancho, 'if you will raise your eyes, you will see the princess Dulcinea coming yonder.'"

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 "Don Quixote looked, and saw the same peasant girl that Sancho had shown him before."

"They saw a small boat without oars or sails, moored to the bank."

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 "'This is clearly,' said Don Quixote, 'an enchanted bark.'"

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 "And without further ado, he sprang into the boat, followed by Sancho."

 "They saw a company of people dressed in green hunting liveries."

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 "Among them was a lady mounted on a white palfrey, dressed in green, and so richly adorned that beauty itself seemed to be personified in her."

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 "'For the sake of her beauty,' said Don Quixote, 'I will do whatever your highness commands.'"

"The duke and duchess received Don Quixote with great pleasure."

 "They treated him with all the ceremony that was due to a knight-errant."

 "Sancho was not forgotten, and he was lodged in a chamber next to his master's."

"'I have read your history,' said the duke, 'and I find in it many things that are worthy of praise.'"

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 "'But there are also some things,' added the duke, 'that I cannot altogether approve.'"

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 "'Let Sancho eat and drink his fill,' said the duchess, 'for he has earned it.'"

"'Tell me, friend Sancho,' said the duchess, 'what sort of life does your master lead?'"

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"'A life of great hardship and little profit,' replied Sancho."

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 "'But for all that,' said the duchess, 'he seems very happy in his delusions.'"

 "'Know, valiant Don Quixote,' said the duke, 'that the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso is enchanted.'"

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 "'And the only way to disenchant her,' added the duchess, 'is that your squire Sancho should give himself three thousand three hundred lashes.'"

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 "'That I will never do!' cried Sancho."

 "'It is impossible,' said the duke, 'that so great a lady should remain enchanted through the obstinacy of a simple squire.'"

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 "'Your worship must consider,' said Don Quixote to Sancho, 'the importance of this matter.'"

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 "'But I say that I will not give myself a single lash,'" replied Sancho.

 "There came into the courtyard two duennas in mourning attire, and one of them, who seemed to be the chief, advanced towards Don Quixote."

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 "'Valiant knight,' said she, 'I am the most afflicted duenna in the world.'"

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 "'And I have come to your worship to beg a boon.'"

 "'Know, valorous knight, that a wicked giant, called Malambruno, has by his magic art transformed my mistress into a leaden ape.'"

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 "'And he has decreed that she shall never recover her natural form until that renowned knight, Don Quixote of La Mancha, shall engage him in single combat.'"

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 "'And for this purpose, he has sent me to seek you.'"

 "'My misfortunes, señor knight,' said the duenna, 'are such that they would move the very stones to pity.'"

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 "'I was once a princess, and many were my vassals.'"

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 "'But now, alas, I am but a duenna, and my life is full of sorrow and tribulation.'"

 "'O ye duennas, my dear companions, in an unlucky hour were we born, and in an evil minute did our fathers beget us!'"

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"'For behold, sirs, six of my waiting-women, and those yonder, and those others, have their faces overgrown with hair!'"

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 "'And what is worse, the giant Malambruno has sworn that this misfortune shall never be removed until the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha shall engage him in single combat!'"

 "'This, valorous knight,' said the duenna, 'is the steed Clavileno, whereon we are to ride to encounter the great Malambruno.'"

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 "Sancho, having eyed Clavileno all over, said, 'By my faith, he is not much like a horse!'"

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 "'That is because,' replied the duenna, 'enchanted horses are not like other horses.'"

 "'Now, señora,' said Don Quixote, 'we are mounted, and it only remains for your highness to give the word for our departure.'"

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 "They clapped some lighted flax to Clavileno's tail, and at that very instant he, being full of squibs and crackers, blew up in a tremendous explosion."

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 "On one side of the garden they perceived a great lance sticking in the earth, and a smooth piece of white parchment hanging to it by two green silken strings, on which was written in large letters...'"

 "'Remember, Sancho, if thou make virtue thy aim, and take a pride in doing virtuous actions, thou wilt have no cause to envy those who have princely and lordly ones.'"

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 "'Never suffer the abundance of business to so far distract thee as to neglect the due pittance of sleep.'"

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"'If thou shouldst chance to become a widower...seek not such an one as may serve thee for a hook and angling-rod.'"

 "'Though thou art but a clown, endeavour to gain respect; and this thou wilt effect by knowing thyself and avoiding every kind of affectation.'"

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 "'Never take upon thee to judge of beauty, which with many is a thing that maketh them weep.'"

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 "'When thou ridest, do not jog thy mule, for that maketh the riders at their ease seem to be of little consequence.'"

 "Sancho at length took his leave of his lord and of the duke and duchess."

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 "'May God guide thee, good Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'and make thee fortunate in thy government.'"

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 "That night the duchess and her women laid a notable jest upon Don Quixote."

 "Sancho Panza arrived at his government, accompanied by a hundred men on horseback, and many others on foot."

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 "As soon as he arrived, they carried him to the principal church, and there they delivered him the keys of the town."

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 "The sound of the bells was succeeded by loud acclamations and joyful shouts."

 "That night Don Quixote was reposing in his bed when suddenly he was startled by a great ringing of bells."

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 "Presently two great cats sprang upon him, and began to claw his face and hands."

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 "Altisidora pretended to faint away in Don Quixote's arms."

 "The history relates that Sancho Panza entered upon the government of his island with great diligence."

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 "There were brought before him divers difficult and intricate cases."

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 "And he gave sentence in them all with so much discretion and good sense as filled everyone with admiration."

 "Presently the duchess and many of her women came into the room, and among them was Altisidora, looking very pale and feeble."

 "'Ah, cruel knight,' said she, 'you have been the death of me!'"

 "Don Quixote was amazed at all this, and could not tell what to make of it."

"'It is necessary, señor governor,' said the steward, 'that you should go round the island.'"

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"Sancho mounted his ass, and began his circuit."

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 "A page whispered in his ear, 'Beware, señor governor, for there are enemies in the island.'"

 "Suddenly there arose a great noise of bells ringing and of cries and shouts."

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 "Sancho Panza, hearing this uproar, sallied forth with his truncheon in his hand."

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 "But the crowd was so great and the blows so thick that poor Sancho was soon brought to the ground."

 "'Señores,' said Sancho, 'to be a governor is no jest.'"

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 "'I find that it is a burden too heavy for my shoulders.'"

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 "'I had rather go Sancho to heaven than a governor to hell.'"

 "Presently Altisidora came into the room, looking as lively as possible."

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 "'Know, señor Don Quixote,' said she, 'that I have returned from the other world.'"

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 "'And I have come to tell you that it is your cruelty that has brought me to this pass.'"

"The duke and duchess had arranged that a page should personate Merlin."

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 "Merlin announced that Dulcinea could only be disenchanted if Sancho Panza gave himself three thousand three hundred lashes on his bare backside."

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 "Sancho again protested vehemently against this condition."

 "Don Quixote took leave of the duke and duchess."

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 "He thanked them for the great kindness and hospitality he had received."

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 "The duke and duchess were amused at his simplicity."

"They overtook a cart full of royal ensigns."

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 "Don Quixote, believing some wrong was being done, placed himself in the middle of the road."

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 "But the men in charge of the ensigns paid no heed to his words, and rode over him and Rocinante."

 "They came upon the same bark that they had met with before."

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 "Some young men who were in the boat invited them to embark."

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 "They blindfolded Don Quixote and Sancho, and pretended to take them on a long and perilous voyage."

 "At length they reached Barcelona, and the city seemed to Don Quixote to be a very fine one."

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 "The people came out to see him, and they marvelled at his strange appearance."

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 "A gentleman invited him to stay at his house."

 "The gentleman took Don Quixote to a room where there was a bronze head placed upon a pedestal."

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 "The head answered the questions that Don Quixote put to it, by means of a hidden speaker."

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 "Don Quixote was greatly impressed by the wisdom of the enchantd head."

"Don Quixote saw a lady on horseback, dressed in green, with a falcon on her wrist."

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 "He approached her with his usual courteous manner."

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 "But the lady, either by accident or design, spurred her horse and rode away, leaving Don Quixote looking foolish."

"Don Quixote, having taken leave of his host, went to walk along the beach with Sancho."

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 "They saw a galley drawn up near the shore, full of armed men."

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 "Don Quixote, believing some injustice was being done, prepared to intervene."

 "'These are the king's galleys,' said one of the guards, 'and these men are condemned criminals going to serve their sentence.'"

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 "'Despite that,' said Don Quixote, 'you must release them, for it is not right to force such men against their will.'"

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 "But the galley-slaves, who were a reckless and desperate set, no sooner saw themselves free than they fell upon the guards."

 "Don Quixote remembered the enchanted head, and resolved to go and ask it some more questions."

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 "The head answered his inquiries in the same manner as before, by means of the hidden speaker."

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 "Don Quixote was greatly satisfied with the responses he received."

 "Sancho Panza was not a little disturbed at the ill-success of their adventure with the galley-slaves."

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 "And while he was in this mood, one of the liberated galley-slaves came up to him and robbed him of his ass."

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 "Sancho wept and lamented the loss of his Dapple more than the loss of his ducal dignity."

 "There was a jousting match held in the city, and Don Quixote resolved to take part in it."

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 "There entered the lists a knight dressed in white armour, with a white moon painted on his shield."

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 "'I vanquish you, Don Quixote of La Mancha, and the condition of our combat is that you return to your village for the space of one year.'"

 "'Know, valorous Don Quixote,' said the Knight of the White Moon, 'that I am the bachelor Samson Carrasco.'"

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 "'My sole object in vanquishing you was to make you give up your mad enterprises and return to your village.'"

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 "Don Quixote was amazed and confounded at what he heard."

 "'Sancho,' said Don Quixote, 'the pleasure I once felt in my adventures has now turned to bitterness and sorrow.'"

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 "'The glory of my past deeds has vanished like a dream.'"

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 * "Sancho tried to comfort him as best he could, but Don Quixote remained inconsolable."

 "'Now that fortune has declared against me,' said Don Quixote, 'I have resolved to change my way of life.'"

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 "'I will turn shepherd, and we will wander through the green meadows and shady groves.'"

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 "'We will call ourselves Quixotiz and Panzino.'"

 "As they drew near their village, they came upon a herd of swine rooting in a field."

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 "Don Quixote, hearing their grunting, said, 'It seems to me, Sancho, that these swine are showing us disrespect.'"

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 "And without further ado, he spurred Rocinante and charged at the herd."

 "But the swine, being numerous and bristly, charged at Rocinante with such fury that they overthrew him and Don Quixote."

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 "There they lay sprawling on the ground, while the swine grunted and snorted around them."

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 "Sancho laughed till he wept, and Don Quixote cursed his evil fortune."

 "At length Don Quixote and Sancho reached their village, weary and dispirited."

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 "Don Quixote went straight to his house, and Sancho went to his wife Teresa."

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 "Sancho told his wife of his governorship and how he had left it, and Teresa listened with great attention."

 "As Don Quixote lay in his bed, he fell into a deep sleep."

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 "When he awoke, he cried out in a loud voice, 'God be thanked, for he has shown me great mercy!'"

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 "The curate, the bachelor, and the barber were astonished at his words."

 "'I, Alonso Quijano, being now in my right senses, though hitherto mad, do make my last will and testament.'"

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 "'I leave my soul to God who created it, and my body to the earth from whence it came.'"

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 "'And I declare that I hold all the books of chivalry to be foolish and pernicious.'"

 "'Ah, master,' said Sancho, weeping, 'do not die, but take my counsel and let us go afield again!'"

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 "'The madness is gone from your worship, but the kindness remains.'"

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 "'No, my friend Sancho,' replied Don Quixote, 'the time for that is past.'"

 "At length, after receiving all the holy sacraments, Don Quixote gave up the ghost."

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 "He died as became a Christian, and all who knew him mourned his loss."

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 "Here ends the history of the ingenious gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha."