in quest of adventures, with the design of delivering the oppressed, of helping the helpless, of redressing grievances, and of waging war against giants, necromancers,3 and all the powers of evil. And as he knew knights to be accompanied by squires, he appointed Sancho Panza to that post of honour enticing the poor, silly clown, by fair promises, to share his adventures. Among other inducements, to prevail upon Sancho to accept his offer, the crazed knight, who sincerely believed his own words, declared that it was usual for knights-errant, like himself, to fall upon such adventures as would secure for their squires the government of a rich island or some other desirable domain.

Such was the knight, and such the squire, who went forth into the world-the one in a disinterested spirit for the advantage of mankind, and the other in the expectation of promoting his own fortune-the one moved by noble aims and high-flown fancies, disdainful of danger; the other with the conviction that self-preservation is the first law of nature and self-interest the highest aim of man.

6

In the story of their adventures, Cervantes amuses his readers with the comical delusions of the enthusiastic knight,5 and the still more comical credulity of his cool-headed squire. A vein of rich humour runs throughout the book, from the first page to the last. At the same time a true insight is given into the working of the human passions; whilst it is impossible for any thoughtful reader to avoid noticing the mischief wrought by good and pure intentions when not under the guidance of good common sense. is sufficiently apparent in

THE KNIGHT'S FIRST ADVENTURE.

This

Our hero' had not travelled far, when he fancied he heard an effeminate voice complaining in a thicket on his right hand. "I thank Heaven," said he, when he heard the cries, "for favouring me so soon with an opportunity to

perform the duty of my profession, and reap the fruits of my desire; for these complaints are certainly the moans of some distressed creature who wants my present help." Then turning to that side with all the speed which Rozinante could make, he no sooner came into the wood but he found a mare tied to an oak, and to another a young lad about fifteen years of age, naked from the waist upwards. This was he who made such a lamentable outcry; and not without cause, for a lusty country fellow was strapping him soundly with a girdle, at every stripe putting him in mind of a proverb, Keep your mouth shut, and your eyes open. "Good master," cried the boy, "I'll do so no more: indeed, master, hereafter I'll take more care of your goods."

8

Don Quixote seeing this, cried in an angry tone, “Discourteous knight, 'tis an unworthy act to strike a person who is not able to defend himself: come, bestride thy steed, and take thy lance, then I'll make thee know thou hast acted the part of a coward.”

The country fellow, who gave himself up for lost at the sight of an apparition in armour brandishing his lance at his face, answered him in mild and submissive words: "Sir knight," cried he, "this boy, whom I am chastising, is my servant; and because I correct him for his carelessness or his knavery, he says I do it out of covetousness, to defraud him of his wages; but, upon my life and soul, he belies me."

"Sayest thou this in my presence, vile rustic?" cried Don Quixote; "for thy insolent speech I have a good mind to run thee through the body with my lance. Pay the boy this instant without any more words, or I will immediately despatch and annihilate thee: unbind him, I say, this moment.”

The countryman hung down his head, and without any further reply unbound the boy; who being asked by Don Quixote what his master owed him, told him it was nine months' wages, at seven reals a month. The knight having cast it up, found it came to sixty-three reals 10 in all; which he ordered the farmer to pay the fellow immediately, un

"The

less he intended to lose his life that very moment. worst is, sir knight," cried the farmer, "that I have no money about me; but let Andres go home with me, and I'll pay him every piece out of hand."

"What, I go home with him!" cried the youngster; "I know better things: for he'd no sooner have me by himself, but he'd flay me alive, like another St. Bartholomew." "11 "He will not dare," replied Don Quixote; "I command him, and that's sufficient: therefore, provided he will swear by the order of knighthood 12 which has been conferred upon him, that he will duly observe this regulation, I will freely let him go, and then thou art secure of thy money." "Good sir, take heed what you say," cried the boy; "for my master is no knight, nor ever was of any order in his life: he's John Haldudo, the rich farmer of Quintinar." "This signifies little," answered Don Quixote, "for there may be knights among the Haldudos; besides, the brave man carves out his fortune, and every man is the son of his own works." "That's true, sir," quoth Andres; "but of what works can this master of mine be the son, who denies me my wages, which I have earned with the sweat of my brow?" "I do not refuse to pay thee thy wages, honest Andres," cried the master; "do but go along with me, and by all the orders of knighthood in the world, I promise to pay thee every piece, as I said." "Be sure," said Don Quixote, "you perform your promise; for if you fail, I will assuredly return and find you out, and punish you moreover, though you should hide yourself as close as a lizard. And if you will be informed who it is that lays these injunctions on you, that you may understand how highly it concerns you to observe them, know, I am Don Quixote de la Mancha, the righter of wrongs, the revenger and redresser of grievances and so farewell; but remember what you have promised and sworn, as you will answer for it at your peril." This said, he clapped spurs to Rozinante, and quickly left them behind.

:

The countryman, who followed him with both his eyes,

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no sooner perceived that he was past the woods, and quite out of sight, than he went back to his boy Andres. "Come, child," said he, "I will pay thee what I owe thee, as that righter of wrongs and redresser of grievances has ordered me." Ay," quoth Andres, "on my word, you will do well to fulfil the commands of that good knight, whom Heaven grant long to live; for he is so brave a man, and so just a judge, that if you don't pay me he will come back and make his words good." "I dare swear as much," answered the master; 66 and to show thee how much I love thee, I am willing to increase the debt, that I may enlarge the payment." With that he caught the youngster by the arm, and tied him again to the tree; where he handled him so unmercifully, that scarce any signs of life were left in him. "Now call your righter of wrongs, Mr. Andres,” cried the farmer, "and you shall see he will never be able to undo what I have done; though I think it is but a part of what I ought to do, for I have a good mind to flay you alive, as you said I would, you rascal." However, he untied him at last, and gave him leave to go and seek out his judge, in order to have his decree put in execution. Andres went his ways, not very well pleased, you may be sure, yet fully resolved to find out the valorous Don Quixote, and give him an exact account of the whole transaction, that he might pay the abuse with sevenfold usury:13 in short, he crept off sobbing and weeping, while his master stayed behind laughing. And in this manner was this wrong redressed by the valorous Don Quixote de la Mancha.

knights in former times formed a distinct rank or order of men, just like the clergy still form a distinct order or class. When a gentleman was admitted into the order of knighthood, he took a solemn oath to fear God, to fight for the faith, to defend the weak, to be courteous to ladies, and to keep his word. Hence Don Quixote, thinking he was dealing with a knight, was satisfied with his sworn promise to pay the boy.

13 Sevenfold usury.-Usury is interest paid for the loan of money. Hence by "sevenfold usury " is meant paying back seven times as much as was received.

SANCHO PANZA AS GOVERNOR.

IN the course of their travels, our worthy knight and squire called at the castle of a duke and duchess, who chanced to be acquainted with their strange adventures, and thought they might get much entertainment by humouring their strange fancies. Among other things planned for their own amusement, it occurred to the duke to pretend to put Sancho in possession of the island he had been promised by his master. So the duke took his steward into his confidence,1 and directed him to give instructions to the inhabitants of a small town on his domains to receive and treat Sancho as their governor.

At length the time arrived for Sancho Panza to depart to the island he had been appointed to govern. He was mounted on a mule, and behind him, by the duke's order, was led his Dapple, bridled and saddled, like a horse of state, in gaudy trappings of silk; which so delighted Sancho, that every now and then he turned his head about to look upon him, and thought himself so happy, that he would not have changed fortunes with the King of Spain.

After having travelled a few miles, Governor Sancho, with his attendants, came to a town that had about a thousand inhabitants, and was one of the best on the duke's terri