Don Quixote of the Mancha, Retold by Judge Parry

by Sir Edward Abbott Parry; Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

When Sancho heard his Master say these things he began to weep piteously, and said to him: 'Sir, I see no reason why you should undertake this fearful adventure. It is now night, there is no one sees us, we can easily turn aside and go away from the danger, and since no one sees us no one can set us down as cowards. Remember that I left my country, wife, and children to come and serve you, and to obtain that unlucky and accursed Island you have promised me so often, and now you mean to forsake me here in this desert. Put it off at least until the morning, for it can want but little from this to daybreak.'

'Let it want what it may,' answered Don Quixote, 'it shall never be said of me that tears or prayers hindered my doing my duty as a Knight.'

Sancho, seeing that his Master's mind was made up, and that his tears, entreaties, and prayers were of no avail, determined to use his wits, and see if by trickery he could make him wait until daybreak. And so, when he was tightening the horse's girths, he softly and without being felt tied his Ass's halter to both Rozinante's legs, so fast that when Don Quixote thought to depart he could not, for his horse was not able to go a step except by little jumps.

Sancho, seeing the success of his trick, exclaimed: 'Behold, Sir, how Heaven, moved by my tears and prayers, has ruled that Rozinante shall not be able to go a step; and if you persist in urging, spurring, and striking him, it will be to anger Fortune, and kick, as the saying is, against the pricks.'

Don Quixote grew angry at this, and yet the more he spurred Rozinante the less would he move. But at last he became convinced that it was no further use attempting to make him go, and resolved to remain quiet until the morning came, or until Rozinante would please to depart. And having no idea that Sancho was the cause of this, he said to him: 'Since it is so, Sancho, that Rozinante is not able to move, I am content to wait here until morning smiles, although I weep to think it may be so long in coming.'

'You shall have no cause to weep,' replied Sancho; 'for I will tell you stories from now till daylight, unless you would like to dismount and snatch a little sleep upon the green grass, after the custom of Knights Errant, that you may be the fresher the morrow to finish this terrible adventure.'

'Who talks of sleeping?' said Don Quixote angrily. 'Am I one of those Knights that repose in time of danger? Sleep thou, who wast born to sleep, or do what thou please, for I shall do what I think right.'

'Good Sir, be not angry,' said Sancho, 'for I did not mean that'; and coming as near to his Master as he durst, he placed one hand on the pommel of his saddle and crept as near as he could, so great was the fear he had of those blows, which all the while did sound without ceasing.

After many hours spent in conversation the dawn approached, and Sancho, seeing this, unloosed Rozinante very carefully. As soon as the horse felt himself free, though he was never very mettlesome, he began to paw with his hoofs, and Don Quixote, noticing that he moved, took it for a good sign, and believed that it was now time to attempt this fearful adventure.