IN WHICH IS RELATED THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENAMORED SHEPHERD,
TOGETHER WITH OTHER TRULY DROLL INCIDENTS
They had traveled but a short time when they met some students and
peasants on mule-back, and since they were going in the same direction
Don Quixote offered them his protection if they would only make the
pace of their young mules conform with that of his steed and Dapple.
They agreed to do so, and it was not long ere the Knight of the Lions
had introduced himself to his companions, and told them of his
revival. The students were quick to perceive that he was demented; but
not so the peasants, who could make neither head nor tail of what he
said, and ascribed this to their own ignorance.
The students invited the knight to come with them to a wedding-feast, and
immediately he asked which prince was to be married without his knowing
it. The students informed him that it was not any prince's wedding, but
that of a rich farmer by the name of Camacho, who was marrying the fair
Quiteria, daughter of a rich man in their neighborhood. Quiteria, they
said, was in love with one Basilio, a poor young shepherd, whom her
father had sent away in anger from his house, forbidding him ever to see
his daughter again. As a result of this banishment and his being
separated from his love, he had now gone mad.
Don Quixote, having listened attentively to the students' story, began
a discourse on love and marriage. Now and then Sancho interrupted him
with strings of proverbs; this would infuriate his master by making
him deviate from his subject. Finally Don Quixote retaliated by
attacking and criticising Sancho's language, which he said was
atrocious.
Soon their arguments were taken up by the students. One of them stood
by Sancho; the other one took Don Quixote's point of view. Having once
been involved, they argued first on one subject, then on another,
until at last foils and the art of fencing became the subject. It so
happened that one of them was carrying his foils with him, and he
suggested that they settle their argument then and there. They did so
under Don Quixote's chivalrous supervision, and when the engagement
had come to an end, the one who had challenged was so worn and torn
that Sancho felt sorry for him and went over to console him; at the
same time he felt it his duty to advise him never again to fence,
although he did not advise him against wrestling or throwing the bar,
for he was strong enough for that, he thought. Whereupon the
challenger rose and embraced his adversary, and after that they were
better friends than ever.
They pursued their journey, and before long it grew dark. Soon
afterwards they heard the musicians at the wedding, and saw the
preparations that were being made for it. Here Don Quixote took leave
of the students and the peasants, saying that being a knight-errant,
he was obliged to give up the comfort of a bed, and would go to sleep
in the woods or some lonely field. They did their best to persuade him
to accept their hospitality--aided and abetted by the comfort-loving
Sancho--but all remonstrances were in vain, much to Sancho's regret.