until they come to be great lords; so that the difference is that the one were what they no longer are, and the others are what they formerly were not. And I may be of such that after investigation my origin may prove great and famous, with which the king, my father-in-law that is to be, ought to be satisfied; and should he not be, the princess will so love me that even though she well knew me to be the son of a water-carrier, she will take me for her lord and husband in spite of her father; if not, then it comes to seizing her and carrying her off where I please; for time or death will put an end to the wrath of her parents."
"It comes to this, too," said Sancho, "what some naughty people say, 'Never ask as a favor what thou canst take by force;'[1] though it would fit better to say, 'A clear escape is better than good men's prayers.'[2] I say so because if my lord the king, your worship's father-in-law, will not condescend to give you my lady the princess, there is nothing for it but, as your worship says, to seize her and transport her. But the mischief is that until peace is made and you come into the peaceful enjoyment of your kingdom, the poor squire is famishing as far as rewards go, unless it be that the confidante damsel that is to be his wife comes with the princess, and that with her he tides over his bad luck until Heaven otherwise orders things; for his master, I suppose, may as well give her to him at once for a lawful wife."
"Nobody can object to that," said Don Quixote.
"Then since that may be," said Sancho, "there is nothing for it but to commend ourselves to God, and let fortune take what course it will."
"God guide it according to my wishes and thy wants," said Don Quixote, "and mean be he who makes himself mean."[3]
"In God's name let him be so," said Sancho; "I am an old Christian, and to fit me for a count that 's enough."[4]
"And more than enough for thee," said Don Quixote; "and even wert thou not, it would make no difference, because I being the king can easily give thee nobility without purchase or service rendered by thee, for when I make thee a count,
- ↑ Prov. 107.
- ↑ Prov. 212. "Mas vale salto de mata que ruego de hombres buenos." Mata is here an old equivalent of matanza = "slaughter;" in modern Spanish the word means a bush or hedge, in consequence of which the proverb is generally misunderstood and mistranslated.
- ↑ Prov. 210.
- ↑ Prov. 61. V. note, p. 143.
