Don Quixote - Part I

IN WHICH ARE CONTINUED THE UNHEARD-OF ADVENTURES OF THE INN

So loud, in fact, were the shouts of Don Quixote, that the landlord

opening the gate of the inn in all haste, came out in dismay, and ran to

see who was uttering such cries, and those who were outside joined him.

Maritornes, who had been by this time roused up by the same outcry,

suspecting what it was, ran to the loft and, without anyone seeing her,

untied the halter by which Don Quixote was suspended, and down he came to

the ground in the sight of the landlord and the travellers, who

approaching asked him what was the matter with him that he shouted so. He

without replying a word took the rope off his wrist, and rising to his

feet leaped upon Rocinante, braced his buckler on his arm, put his lance

in rest, and making a considerable circuit of the plain came back at a

half-gallop exclaiming:

"Whoever shall say that I have been enchanted with just cause, provided

my lady the Princess Micomicona grants me permission to do so, I give him

the lie, challenge him and defy him to single combat."

The newly arrived travellers were amazed at the words of Don Quixote; but

the landlord removed their surprise by telling them who he was, and not

to mind him as he was out of his senses. They then asked the landlord if

by any chance a youth of about fifteen years of age had come to that inn,

one dressed like a muleteer, and of such and such an appearance,

describing that of Dona Clara's lover. The landlord replied that there

were so many people in the inn he had not noticed the person they were

inquiring for; but one of them observing the coach in which the Judge had

come, said, "He is here no doubt, for this is the coach he is following:

let one of us stay at the gate, and the rest go in to look for him; or

indeed it would be as well if one of us went round the inn, lest he

should escape over the wall of the yard." "So be it," said another; and

while two of them went in, one remained at the gate and the other made

the circuit of the inn; observing all which, the landlord was unable to

conjecture for what reason they were taking all these precautions, though

he understood they were looking for the youth whose description they had

given him.

It was by this time broad daylight; and for that reason, as well as in

consequence of the noise Don Quixote had made, everybody was awake and

up, but particularly Dona Clara and Dorothea; for they had been able to

sleep but badly that night, the one from agitation at having her lover so

near her, the other from curiosity to see him. Don Quixote, when he saw

that not one of the four travellers took any notice of him or replied to

his challenge, was furious and ready to die with indignation and wrath;

and if he could have found in the ordinances of chivalry that it was

lawful for a knight-errant to undertake or engage in another enterprise,

when he had plighted his word and faith not to involve himself in any

until he had made an end of the one to which he was pledged, he would

have attacked the whole of them, and would have made them return an

answer in spite of themselves. But considering that it would not become

him, nor be right, to begin any new emprise until he had established

Micomicona in her kingdom, he was constrained to hold his peace and wait

quietly to see what would be the upshot of the proceedings of those same

travellers; one of whom found the youth they were seeking lying asleep by

the side of a muleteer, without a thought of anyone coming in search of

him, much less finding him.