Page:The History of the Valorous and Wity Knight-Errant, Don-Quixote of the Mancha. Volume three.djvu/32

not," said the vicar, "I would make it good, and undertake for him upon pain of excommunication." "And who shall undertake for you, master vicar?" quoth Don Quixote. "My profession," answered he, "which is to keep counsel." "Body of me!" said Don Quixote, "is there any more to be done then, but that the king cause proclamation to be made that at a prefixed day all the knights-errant that rove up and down Spain repair to the court ? and if there came but half a dozen, yet such an one there might be amongst them as would destroy all the Turk's power. Hearken to me, ho! I and let me take you with me: do you think it is strange that one knight-errant should conquer an army of two hundred thousand fighting-men, as if all together had but one throat, or were made of sugarpellets? But tell me, how many stories are full of those marvels ? You should have brave Don Belianis alive now, with a pox to me, for I'll curse no other; or some one of that invincible lineage of Amadis de Gaul; for if any of these were living at this day, and should affront the Turk, i' faith I would not be in his coat. But God will provide for His people, and send some one, if not so brave a knight-errant as those formerly, yet at least that shall not be inferior in courage; and God knows my meaning, and I say no more." "Alas!" quoth the niece at this instant, "hang me, if my master have not a desire to turn knight-errant again." Then cried Don Quixote, "I must die so; march the Turk up and down when he will, and as powerfully as he can—I say again, God knows my meaning." Then said the barber, "God sirs, give me leave to tell you a brief tale of an accident in Seville, which because it falls out so pat, I must tell it." Don Quixote was willing, the vicar and the rest gave their attention, and thus he began:—