"I am informed, fair lady, by my squire here that your greatness has been

annihilated and your being abolished, since, from a queen and lady of

high degree as you used to be, you have been turned into a private

maiden. If this has been done by the command of the magician king your

father, through fear that I should not afford you the aid you need and

are entitled to, I may tell you he did not know and does not know half

the mass, and was little versed in the annals of chivalry; for, if he had

read and gone through them as attentively and deliberately as I have, he

would have found at every turn that knights of less renown than mine have

accomplished things more difficult: it is no great matter to kill a whelp

of a giant, however arrogant he may be; for it is not many hours since I

myself was engaged with one, and-I will not speak of it, that they may

not say I am lying; time, however, that reveals all, will tell the tale

when we least expect it."

"You were engaged with a couple of wine-skins, and not a giant," said the

landlord at this; but Don Fernando told him to hold his tongue and on no

account interrupt Don Quixote, who continued, "I say in conclusion, high

and disinherited lady, that if your father has brought about this

metamorphosis in your person for the reason I have mentioned, you ought

not to attach any importance to it; for there is no peril on earth

through which my sword will not force a way, and with it, before many

days are over, I will bring your enemy's head to the ground and place on

yours the crown of your kingdom."

Don Quixote said no more, and waited for the reply of the princess, who

aware of Don Fernando's determination to carry on the deception until Don

Quixote had been conveyed to his home, with great ease of manner and

gravity made answer, "Whoever told you, valiant Knight of the Rueful

Countenance, that I had undergone any change or transformation did not

tell you the truth, for I am the same as I was yesterday. It is true that

certain strokes of good fortune, that have given me more than I could

have hoped for, have made some alteration in me; but I have not therefore

ceased to be what I was before, or to entertain the same desire I have

had all through of availing myself of the might of your valiant and

invincible arm. And so, senor, let your goodness reinstate the father

that begot me in your good opinion, and be assured that he was a wise and

prudent man, since by his craft he found out such a sure and easy way of

remedying my misfortune; for I believe, senor, that had it not been for

you I should never have lit upon the good fortune I now possess; and in

this I am saying what is perfectly true; as most of these gentlemen who

are present can fully testify. All that remains is to set out on our

journey to-morrow, for to-day we could not make much way; and for the

rest of the happy result I am looking forward to, I trust to God and the

valour of your heart."




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