United States or Switzerland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The keeper made one more attempt to turn Don Quixote from his folly, but again finding it useless, very unwillingly opened the cage door. Meantime the Knight had been thinking whether it would be best to fight the lion on foot or on horseback, and he had made up his mind to fight on foot, for the reason that "Rozinante" would probably be too much afraid to face the lion.
So Don Quixada was turned into Don Quixote de la Mancha, and, mounting Rozinante, he left the inn, and with a joyful heart started to seek his first adventure.
Till then, he must, as soon as might be, make his armour white, in token that as yet he had had no adventures. In this manner he took heart again. All that day he rode, without either bite or sup, and, of the two, Rozinante fared the better, for he at least found a tuft of coarse grass to eat.
The confidence which he reposed in his balsam, heightened, if possible, his resolution; and thus carried away by his eager thoughts, he saddled Rozinante himself, and then put the pannel upon the ass, and his squire upon the pannel, after he had helped him to huddle on his clothes; that done, he mounted his steed; and having spied a javelin that stood in a corner, he seized and appropriated it to himself, to supply the want of his lance.
But no dwarf appeared, and as "Rozinante" showed great haste to reach the stable, Don Quixote began to move towards the inn. At this moment it happened that a swineherd in a field near at hand sounded his horn to bring his herd of pigs home to be fed.
"After all, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "it is only for a year. After that I can begin again, and perhaps then I may be able to make thee an Earl." "Heaven grant it" said Sancho. So when the Knight was once more able to move they set out for home, Don Quixote riding "Rozinante" Sancho walking, for "Dapple" carried the armor.
'But what shall I do with my ass? inquired the squire anxiously, 'for I suppose that until this day no man has ever yet ridden into combat on an ass. 'Let him loose, said Don Quixote, 'and think no more of him, for after we have vanquished our enemies we shall have such choice of horses that I may light upon one even better than Rozinante!
But she had one peculiarity which is not set down in the description of Rozinante, to wit: the faculty of diagonal or oblique locomotion. This mare of Uncle Peter's went forward something after the fashion of a crab, and a little like a ship with the wind abeam, as the sailors would say. It was a standing topic of dispute among us school-boys, whether the animal went head foremost or not.
"What!" roared Don Quixote in a terrible rage, "not know the beauteous Lady Dulcinea del Toboso! That only makes matters worse. Do you dare to argue?" And with that he couched his spear, drove his spurs into "Rozinante," and rode furiously at the nearest merchant. What he would have done it is not possible to say.
Word Of The Day