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of the greatest signs of poverty a gentleman can show in the course of
his never…failing embarrassments。 He put out the candles； but the
night was warm and he could not sleep； he rose from his bed and opened
slightly a grated window that looked out on a beautiful garden； and as
he did so he perceived and heard people walking and talking in the
garden。 He set himself to listen attentively； and those below raised
their voices so that he could hear these words：
〃Urge me not to sing； Emerencia； for thou knowest that ever since
this stranger entered the castle and my eyes beheld him； I cannot sing
but only weep； besides my lady is a light rather than a heavy sleeper；
and I would not for all the wealth of the world that she found us
here； and even if she were asleep and did not waken； my singing
would be in vain； if this strange AEneas； who has come into my
neighbourhood to flout me； sleeps on and wakens not to hear it。〃
〃Heed not that； dear Altisidora；〃 replied a voice； 〃the duchess is
no doubt asleep； and everybody in the house save the lord of thy heart
and disturber of thy soul； for just now I perceived him open the
grated window of his chamber； so he must be awake； sing； my poor
sufferer； in a low sweet tone to the accompaniment of thy harp； and
even if the duchess hears us we can lay the blame on the heat of the
night。〃
〃That is not the point； Emerencia；〃 replied Altisidora； 〃it is
that I would not that my singing should lay bare my heart； and that
I should be thought a light and wanton maiden by those who know not
the mighty power of love； but come what may； better a blush on the
cheeks than a sore in the heart；〃 and here a harp softly touched
made itself heard。 As he listened to all this Don Quixote was in a
state of breathless amazement； for immediately the countless
adventures like this； with windows； gratings； gardens； serenades；
lovemakings； and languishings； that he had read of in his trashy books
of chivalry； came to his mind。 He at once concluded that some damsel
of the duchess's was in love with him； and that her modesty forced her
to keep her passion secret。 He trembled lest he should fall； and
made an inward resolution not to yield； and commending himself with
all his might and soul to his lady Dulcinea he made up his mind to
listen to the music； and to let them know he was there he gave a
pretended sneeze； at which the damsels were not a little delighted；
for all they wanted was that Don Quixote should hear them。 So having
tuned the harp； Altisidora； running her hand across the strings； began
this ballad：
O thou that art above in bed；
Between the holland sheets；
A…lying there from night till morn；
With outstretched legs asleep；
O thou； most valiant knight of all
The famed Manchegan breed；
Of purity and virtue more
Than gold of Araby；
Give ear unto a suffering maid；
Well…grown but evil…starr'd；
For those two suns of thine have lit
A fire within her heart。
Adventures seeking thou dost rove；
To others bringing woe；
Thou scatterest wounds； but； ah； the balm
To heal them dost withhold！
Say； valiant youth； and so may God
Thy enterprises speed；
Didst thou the light mid Libya's sands
Or Jaca's rocks first see？
Did scaly serpents give thee suck？
Who nursed thee when a babe？
Wert cradled in the forest rude；
Or gloomy mountain cave？
O Dulcinea may be proud；
That plump and lusty maid；
For she alone hath had the power
A tiger fierce to tame。
And she for this shall famous be
From Tagus to Jarama；
From Manzanares to Genil；
From Duero to Arlanza。
Fain would I change with her； and give
A petticoat to boot；
The best and bravest that I have；
All trimmed with gold galloon。
O for to be the happy fair
Thy mighty arms enfold；
Or even sit beside thy bed
And scratch thy dusty poll！
I rave；… to favours such as these
Unworthy to aspire；
Thy feet to tickle were enough
For one so mean as I。
What caps； what slippers silver…laced；
Would I on thee bestow！
What damask breeches make for thee；
What fine long holland cloaks！
And I would give thee pearls that should
As big as oak…galls show；
So matchless big that each might well
Be called the great 〃Alone。〃
Manchegan Nero； look not down
From thy Tarpeian Rock
Upon this burning heart； nor add
The fuel of thy wrath。
A virgin soft and young am I；
Not yet fifteen years old；
（I'm only three months past fourteen；
I swear upon my soul）。
I hobble not nor do I limp；
All blemish I'm without；
And as I walk my lily locks
Are trailing on the ground。
And though my nose be rather flat；
And though my mouth be wide；
My teeth like topazes exalt
My beauty to the sky。
Thou knowest that my voice is sweet；
That is if thou dost hear；
And I am moulded in a form
Somewhat below the mean。
These charms； and many more； are thine；
Spoils to thy spear and bow all；
A damsel of this house am I；
By name Altisidora。
Here the lay of the heart…stricken Altisidora came to an end；
while the warmly wooed Don Quixote began to feel alarm； and with a
deep sigh he said to himself； 〃O that I should be such an unlucky
knight that no damsel can set eyes on me but falls in love with me！
O that the peerless Dulcinea should be so unfortunate that they cannot
let her enjoy my incomparable constancy in peace！ What would ye with
her； ye queens？ Why do ye persecute her； ye empresses？ Why ye pursue
her； ye virgins of from fourteen to fifteen？ Leave the unhappy being
to triumph； rejoice and glory in the lot love has been pleased to
bestow upon her in surrendering my heart and yielding up my soul to
her。 Ye love…smitten host； know that to Dulcinea only I am dough and
sugar…paste； flint to all others； for her I am honey； for you aloes。
For me Dulcinea alone is beautiful； wise； virtuous； graceful； and
high…bred； and all others are ill…favoured； foolish； light； and
low…born。 Nature sent me into the world to be hers and no other's；
Altisidora may weep or sing； the lady for whose sake they belaboured
me in the castle of the enchanted Moor may give way to despair； but
I must be Dulcinea's； boiled or roast； pure； courteous； and chaste； in
spite of all the magic…working powers on earth。〃 And with that he shut
the window with a bang； and； as much out of temper and out of sorts as
if some great misfortune had befallen him； stretched himself on his
bed； where we will leave him for the present； as the great Sancho
Panza； who is about to set up his famous government； now demands our
attention。
CHAPTER XLV
OF HOW THE GREAT SANCHO PANZA TOOK POSSESSION OF HIS ISLAND； AND
OF HOW HE MADE A BEGINNING IN GOVERNING
O PERPETUAL discoverer of the antipodes； torch of the world； eye
of heaven； sweet stimulator of the water…coolers！ Thimbraeus here；
Phoebus there； now archer； now physician； father of poetry； inventor
of music； thou that always risest and； notwithstanding appearances；
never settest！ To thee； O Sun； by whose aid man begetteth man； to thee
I appeal to help me and lighten the darkness of my wit that I may be
able to proceed with scrupulous exactitude in giving an account of the
great Sancho Panza's government； for without thee I feel myself
weak； feeble； and uncertain。
To come to the point； then… Sancho with all his attendants arrived
at a village of some thousand inhabitants； and one of the largest
the duke possessed。 They informed him that it was called the island of
Barataria； either because the name of the village was Baratario； or
because of the joke by way of which the government had been
conferred upon him。 On reaching the gates of the town； which was a
walled one； the municipality came forth to meet him； the bells rang
out a peal； and the inhabitants showed every sign of general
satisfaction； and with great pomp they conducted him to the
principal church to give thanks to God； and then with burlesque
ceremonies they presented him with the keys of the town； and
acknowledged him as perpetual governor of the island of Barataria。 The
costume； the beard； and the fat squat figure of the new governor
astonished all those who were not in the secret； and even all who
were； and they were not a few。 Finally； leading him out of the
church they carried him to the judgment seat and seated him on it； and
the duke's majordomo said to him； 〃It is an ancient custom in this
island； senor governor； that he who comes to take possession of this
famous island is bound to answer a question which shall be put to him；
and which must he a somewhat knotty and difficult one； and by his
answer the people take the measure of their new governor's wit； and
hail with joy or deplor