6

invention to find what is agreeable to his inclination. I can furnish the jealous, the forsaken, the disdained, the absent, with what will fit them to a hair. Another piece, which I now have on the anvil, I design to call the Metamorphosis, or The Spanish Ovid;' an invention very new and extraordinary. It is in short, Ovid Burlesqued ;' wherein I discover who the Giralda* of Seville was; who the angel of Magdalen; I tell ye what was the pipe of Vecinguerra of Cordova, what the bulls of Guisando, the Sierra Morena, the fountains of Laganitos, and Lavapies at Madrid; not forgetting that of Piojo, nor those of the golden pipe, and the abbey; and I embellish the fables with allegories, metaphors, and translations, that will both delight and instruct. Another work, which I soon design for the press, I call a supplement to Polydore Virgil, concerning the invention of things; a piece, I will assure you, sir, that shews the great pains and learning of the compiler, and perhaps in a better style than the old author. For example, he has forgot to tell us, who was the first that was troubled with a catarrh in the world; and who was the first that was fluxed for the French disease. Now, sir, I immediately resolve it, and confirm my assertion by the testimony of at least four-and-twenty authentic writers; by which quotations alone, you may guess, sir, at what pains I have been to instruct and benefit the public."

* All these are noted things, or places in Spain, on which many fabulous stories are grounded. See Notes.

Sancho having hearkened with great attention all this while, "Pray, sir," quoth he to him, "so heaven guide your right hand in all you write, let me ask you who was the first man that scratched his head ?"" Scratched his head, friend ?" answered the author." Ay, sir, scratched his head ?" quoth Sancho: "Sure you that know all things, can tell me that, or the devil is in it! What think you of old father Adam?"—"Old father Adam ?" answered the scholar: "let me see-father Adam had a head, he had hair, he had hands, and he could scratch: But father Adam was the first man; Ergo, Father Adam was the first man that scratched his head. It is plain you are in the right."-" O ho, am I so, sir ?" quoth Sancho. "Another question, by your leave, sir, Who was the first tumbler in the world?”—“Truly, friend," answered the student, "that is a point I cannot resolve you without consulting my books; but as soon as ever I get home, I will study night and day to find it out."-" For two fair words," quoth Sancho, "I will save you that trouble."-" Can you resolve that doubt ?" asked the author.-" Ay, marry, can I," said Sancho: "The first tumbler in the world was Lucifer; when he was cast out of heaven he tumbled into hell."" You are positively in the right," said the scholar." Where did you get that, Sancho ?" said Don Quixote; "for I dare swear it is none of your own."-" Mum!" quoth Sancho. "In asking of foolish questions, and selling of bargains, let Sancho alone, quo' I; I do not want the help of my neighbours."-" Truly," said

This said, he got up again, and approaching the entrance of the cave, he found it stopped up with brakes and bushes, so that he must be obliged to make his way by force. Whereupon, drawing his sword, he began to cut and slash the brambles that stopped up the mouth of the cave, when presently an infinite number of over-grown crows and daws came rushing and fluttering out of the cave about his ears, so thick, and with such an impetuosity, as overwhelmed him to the ground. He was not superstitious enough to draw any ill omen from the flight of the birds; besides, it was no small encouragement to him, that he spied no bats nor owls, nor other ill-boding birds of night among them: He therefore rose again with an undaunted heart, and committed himself to the black and dreadful abyss. But Sancho first gave him his benediction, and making a thousand crosses over him, "Heaven be thy guide," quoth he, " and our Lady of the Rock in France, with the Trinity of Gaeta, thou flower and cream, and scum of all knights-errant! Go thy ways, thou hackster of the world, heart of steel, and arms of brass! and mayest thou come back sound, wind and limb, out of this dreadful hole which thou art running into, once more to see the warm sun, which thou art now leaving."

*

The scholar too prayed to the same effect for the knight's happy return. Don Quixote then called for more rope, which they gave him by degrees, till

* Particular places of devotion.

his voice was drowned in the winding of the cave, and their cordage was run out. That done they began to consider whether they should hoist him up again immediately or no; however, they resolved to stay half an hour, and then they began to draw up the rope, but were strangely surprised to find no weight upon it; which made them conclude, the poor gentleman was certainly lost. Sancho, bursting out in tears, made a heavy lamentation, and fell a hauling up the rope as fast as he could, to be thoroughly satisfied. But after they had drawn up about four-score fathoms, they felt a weight again, which made them take heart; and at length they plainly saw Don Quixote." Welcome," cried Sancho o him, as soon as he came in sight; "welcome, dear master. I am glad you are come back again; we were afraid you had been pawned for the reckoning." But Sancho had no answer to his compliment; and when they had pulled the knight quite up, they found that his eyes were closed as if he had been fast asleep. They laid him on the ground, and unbound him. Yet he made no sign of waking, and all their turning and shaking was little enough to make him come to himself.

At last he began to stretch his limbs, as if he had waked out of the most profound sleep, and staring wildly about him, "Heaven forgive you, friends!" cried he, "for you have raised me from one of the sweetest lives that ever mortal led, and most delightful sights that ever eyes beheld. Now I perceive how fleeting are all the joys of this transitory life; they are but an imperfect dream, they fade like a

flower, and vanish like a shadow. Oh ill-fated Montesinos! Oh Durandarte, unfortunately wounded! Oh unhappy Belerma! Oh deplorable Guadiana! and you the distressed daughters of Ruydera, whose flowing waters shew what streams of tears once trickled from your lovely eyes!" These expressions, uttered with great passion and concern, surprised the scholar and Sancho, and they desired to know his meaning, and what he had seen in that hell upon earth." Call it not hell," answered Don Quixote, " for it deserves a better name, as I shall soon let you know. But first give me something to eat, for I am prodigiously hungry." They then spread the scholar's coarse saddle-cloth for a carpet; and examining their old cup-board, the knapsack, they all three sat down on the grass, and eat heartily together, like men that were a meal or two behind-hand. When they had done, “let no man stir," said Don Quixote; "sit still, and hear me with attention."

CHAPTER XXIII.

Of the wonderful Things which the unparalleled Don Quixote declared he had seen in the deep Cave of Montesinos, the greatness and impossibility of which makes this Adventure pass for apocryphal.

It was now past four in the afternoon, and the sun was opportunely hid behind the clouds, which, interposing between his rays, invited Don Quixote, without heat or trouble, to relate to his illustrious