Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-05
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
DON OUIXOTE AND HIS LADY.
BY CERVANTES.

(Cervantes. 1547-1616, was q Spanish nov
elist, creator of the harmlessly insane Don
Quixote, who fancied himself q knight OF
counters with dragons. villains, etc. in
company with his squire, Sancho Panzao
Don Ouixote, being near the town
where the lady he had chosen resided
and never having seen her, sent his
squire to secure an audience with her
It was the custom for knights to choose
a fair princess to fight for, as Don
Quixote well knew. So he had chosen
one, but in his fancy he did not know
that to seek her out might result In
disaster, for few people would under
stand his wishes. He thought he was
q knight; people of the day thought him
mad.
Sancho Panza had his wits about him,
and he knew 1t would be folly to seek
the lady herself. So he waited for
hours to pass, so that his master would
think he was engaged in arranging
o meeting, and decided to present Don
Quixote with some country lass in lieu
of the princess. If Don Quixote noticed
her low station and lack of beauty he
could blame it on some enchantment.
knights were frequently miSled by the
Vaccinations of wizards.
So when Sanchow was about to return
to Don Quixote three country laSSes
came toward him, upon three young
donkeyS. Sancho thereupon made all
haste to get to his master.
II bring good news" said Sancho.
"You have no more to do but clap spurs
to your horse and get into the open
fields and you will see my Lady Dulcinea,
with a brace of her damsels, coming to
see your worship. Come, sir, and you
will see our lady princess coming,
dressed up and bedecked like her own
sweet self indeed. Her damsels and
she are all one spark of gold. all pearls,
all diamonds, all rubies, all cloth of
gold above 10 inches high. What is
more. they ride upon three hea-bitten
ambling hays; there is not a piece
of horSefiesh can match them in three
kingdoms"
'Ambling nags,' thou meanest, San
cho," said Don Quixoto.
Ambling hays or 'ambling nags,'"
duoth Sancho, there is no such differ
ence, me thinks: But be they what
they will, I never set eyes on fine crea-
lures"
They were now out of the wood, and
discovered the three country laSses at
small distance. Don Quixote, seeing no
body on the road but the three, was
strangely troubled in his mind, and.
turning to Sancho, asked him whether
the princess and her damsels were come
out of the city when he left them.
out of the ethyl" cried Sancho
why. where are your eyes? Are they
in your heels. in the name of wonder,
that you cannot see them coming to-
ward you. shining as bright as the sun
at noonday?"
Il see nothing" returned Don
donkeyS."
Now Heaven deliver me from the
DEVIL" quoth Sancho. els it possible
your worship should mistake three
ambling nags as white as driven snow
for three ragged ass colts? Body of me!
I will even pull my beard by the roots
If it be sol"
Take it from me, friend Sancho,"
said the knight, they are donkeys as
sure as I am Don Quixote and thou
Sancho Panza-at least, they appear to
be-"
Come, sir" quoth the squire. "Do
not talk like that, but snuff your eyes
and go pay your homage to the mistress
of your soul. for she is near at hand"
So saying, Sancho fastened up to
the three rural lasses, and, alighting
donkeys by the halter, falling on his
knees.
Queen and princess and duchess OF
beauty" Quoth he, IF 1t please your
haughtiness and greatness, vouchsafe to
take into your good grace and liking
yonder knight, your prisoner and cap
tive. who is turned of a sudden into
cold and marble stone and struck all
of a heap TO see himself before your
mightineSS. I am Sancho Panza, his
squire, and he himself the wandering
weather-beaten knight. Don Quixote
otherwise called the knight of the Woe
full Figure"
BY this time Don Quixote, having
placed himself down on his knees by
Sancho, gazed with doubling and dis
consulate eyes on the creature whom
Sancho called queen and lady. Per-
ceiving her to be no more than plain
country girl, so far from being pretty
that she was blubber- checked and nat
nosed, he was lost in establishment ant
could not utter one word. On the othel
side the lasses were no less surprised
to see themselves stopped by two mer
in such different costumes and on tl1eil
knees. They thought they were being
made fun of by some bold gentry o.
other. They told knight and squire tt
let them alone.
Rise, Sancho," said Don Quixote
hearing this, for I am now convinced
that my malicious stars, not yet salts
fed with my past misfortune, still shee
their baleful influence and have barrel
all the passages that could convey re
lief to my miserable soul in this frai
habitation of animated clay. oh, thou
extremity of all that Is valuable, mas.
terpiece of all human perfection, ane
only comfort Of this Afflicted heart thel