Sancho then ran up to Dapple, and, embracing him, cried: 'How hast thou been cared for, my darling and treasure, Dapple of mine eyes, my sweet companion?' With this he stroked and kissed him as if he had been a human being. But the Ass held his peace, and allowed Sancho to kiss and cherish him without answering a word.
SANCHO'S STORY OF HIS VISIT TO THE LADY DULCINEA
CHAPTER XXII
The Story Sancho Panza told his Master of his Visit to the Lady Dulcinea
When the rest came up they all congratulated Sancho on finding his ass, and Don Quixote promised that he would still give him the three ass-colts, for which Sancho thanked him heartily.
While the Knight and his Squire rode on ahead, the Curate said to Cardenio: 'Is it not marvellous to see the strange way in which this good gentleman believes all these inventions, and this only because they wear the style and fashion of the follies he is so fond of reading?'
'It is so,' said Cardenio, 'and indeed, if he were a character in a story-book no one would believe in him.'