IN WHICH CAMACHO'S WEDDING IS CONTINUED, WITH OTHER DELIGHTFUL INCIDENTS

While Don Quixote and Sancho were engaged in the discussion set forth the

last chapter, they heard loud shouts and a great noise, which were

uttered and made by the men on the mares as they went at full gallop,

shouting, to receive the bride and bridegroom, who were approaching with

musical instruments and pageantry of all sorts around them, and

accompanied by the priest and the relatives of both, and all the most

distinguished people of the surrounding villages. When Sancho saw the

bride, he exclaimed, "By my faith, she is not dressed like a country

girl, but like some fine court lady; egad, as well as I can make out, the

patena she wears rich coral, and her green Cuenca stuff is thirty-pile

velvet; and then the white linen trimming--by my oath, but it's satin!

Look at her hands--jet rings on them! May I never have luck if they're

not gold rings, and real gold, and set with pearls as white as a curdled

milk, and every one of them worth an eye of one's head! Whoreson baggage,

what hair she has! if it's not a wig, I never saw longer or fairer all

the days of my life. See how bravely she bears herself--and her shape!

Wouldn't you say she was like a walking palm tree loaded with clusters of

dates? for the trinkets she has hanging from her hair and neck look just

like them. I swear in my heart she is a brave lass, and fit 'to pass over

the banks of Flanders.'"

Don Quixote laughed at Sancho's boorish eulogies and thought that, saving

his lady Dulcinea del Toboso, he had never seen a more beautiful woman.

The fair Quiteria appeared somewhat pale, which was, no doubt, because of

the bad night brides always pass dressing themselves out for their

wedding on the morrow. They advanced towards a theatre that stood on one

side of the meadow decked with carpets and boughs, where they were to

plight their troth, and from which they were to behold the dances and

plays; but at the moment of their arrival at the spot they heard a loud

outcry behind them, and a voice exclaiming, "Wait a little, ye, as

inconsiderate as ye are hasty!" At these words all turned round, and

perceived that the speaker was a man clad in what seemed to be a loose

black coat garnished with crimson patches like flames. He was crowned (as

was presently seen) with a crown of gloomy cypress, and in his hand he

held a long staff. As he approached he was recognised by everyone as the

gay Basilio, and all waited anxiously to see what would come of his

words, in dread of some catastrophe in consequence of his appearance at

such a moment. He came up at last weary and breathless, and planting

himself in front of the bridal pair, drove his staff, which had a steel

spike at the end, into the ground, and, with a pale face and eyes fixed

on Quiteria, he thus addressed her in a hoarse, trembling voice:




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