While engaged in this discourse they were making their way through awood that lay beyond the road, when suddenly, without expectinganything of the kind, Don Quixote found himself caught in some nets ofgreen cord stretched from one tree to another; and unable toconceive what it could be, he said to Sancho, "Sancho, it strikes methis affair of these nets will prove one of the strangest adventuresimaginable. May I die if the enchanters that persecute me are nottrying to entangle me in them and delay my journey, by way ofrevenge for my obduracy towards Altisidora. Well then let me tell themthat if these nets, instead of being green cord, were made of thehardest diamonds, or stronger than that wherewith the jealous god ofblacksmiths enmeshed Venus and Mars, I would break them as easily asif they were made of rushes or cotton threads." But just as he wasabout to press forward and break through all, suddenly from among sometrees two shepherdesses of surpassing beauty presented themselves tohis sight- or at least damsels dressed like shepherdesses, save thattheir jerkins and sayas were of fine brocade; that is to say, thesayas were rich farthingales of gold embroidered tabby. Their hair,that in its golden brightness vied with the beams of the sun itself,fell loose upon their shoulders and was crowned with garlands twinedwith green laurel and red everlasting; and their years to allappearance were not under fifteen nor above eighteen. Such was thespectacle that filled Sancho with amazement, fascinated Don Quixote,made the sun halt in his course to behold them, and held all four in astrange silence. One of the shepherdesses, at length, was the first tospeak and said to Don Quixote, "Hold, sir knight, and do not breakthese nets; for they are not spread here to do you any harm, butonly for our amusement; and as I know you will ask why they havebeen put up, and who we are, I will tell you in a few words. In avillage some two leagues from this, where there are many people ofquality and rich gentlefolk, it was agreed upon by a number of friendsand relations to come with their wives, sons and daughters,neighbours, friends and kinsmen, and make holiday in this spot,which is one of the pleasantest in the whole neighbourhood, setting upa new pastoral Arcadia among ourselves, we maidens dressingourselves as shepherdesses and the youths as shepherds. We haveprepared two eclogues, one by the famous poet Garcilasso, the other bythe most excellent Camoens, in its own Portuguese tongue, but wehave not as yet acted them. Yesterday was the first day of ourcoming here; we have a few of what they say are called field-tentspitched among the trees on the bank of an ample brook thatfertilises all these meadows; last night we spread these nets in thetrees here to snare the silly little birds that startled by thenoise we make may fly into them. If you please to he our guest, senor,you will be welcomed heartily and courteously, for here just nowneither care nor sorrow shall enter."
She held her peace and said no more, and Don Quixote made answer,"Of a truth, fairest lady, Actaeon when he unexpectedly beheld Dianabathing in the stream could not have been more fascinated andwonderstruck than I at the sight of your beauty. I commend your modeof entertainment, and thank you for the kindness of your invitation;and if I can serve you, you may command me with full confidence ofbeing obeyed, for my profession is none other than to show myselfgrateful, and ready to serve persons of all conditions, but especiallypersons of quality such as your appearance indicates; and if,instead of taking up, as they probably do, but a small space, thesenets took up the whole surface of the globe, I would seek out newworlds through which to pass, so as not to break them; and that ye maygive some degree of credence to this exaggerated language of mine,know that it is no less than Don Quixote of La Mancha that makesthis declaration to you, if indeed it be that such a name hasreached your ears."
"Ah! friend of my soul," instantly exclaimed the othershepherdess, "what great good fortune has befallen us! Seest thou thisgentleman we have before us? Well then let me tell thee he is the mostvaliant and the most devoted and the most courteous gentleman in allthe world, unless a history of his achievements that has beenprinted and I have read is telling lies and deceiving us. I will lay awager that this good fellow who is with him is one Sancho Panza hissquire, whose drolleries none can equal."
"That's true," said Sancho; "I am that same droll and squire youspeak of, and this gentleman is my master Don Quixote of La Mancha,the same that's in the history and that they talk about."
"Oh, my friend," said the other, "let us entreat him to stay; for itwill give our fathers and brothers infinite pleasure; I too have heardjust what thou hast told me of the valour of the one and thedrolleries of the other; and what is more, of him they say that heis the most constant and loyal lover that was ever heard of, andthat his lady is one Dulcinea del Toboso, to whom all over Spain thepalm of beauty is awarded."
"And justly awarded," said Don Quixote, "unless, indeed, yourunequalled beauty makes it a matter of doubt. But spare yourselves thetrouble, ladies, of pressing me to stay, for the urgent calls of myprofession do not allow me to take rest under any circumstances."
At this instant there came up to the spot where the four stood abrother of one of the two shepherdesses, like them in shepherdcostume, and as richly and gaily dressed as they were. They told himthat their companion was the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha, and theother Sancho his squire, of whom he knew already from having readtheir history. The gay shepherd offered him his services and beggedthat he would accompany him to their tents, and Don Quixote had togive way and comply. And now the gave was started, and the nets werefilled with a variety of birds that deceived by the colour fell intothe danger they were flying from. Upwards of thirty persons, all gailyattired as shepherds and shepherdesses, assembled on the spot, andwere at once informed who Don Quixote and his squire were, whereatthey were not a little delighted, as they knew of him alreadythrough his history. They repaired to the tents, where they foundtables laid out, and choicely, plentifully, and neatly furnished. Theytreated Don Quixote as a person of distinction, giving him the placeof honour, and all observed him, and were full of astonishment atthe spectacle. At last the cloth being removed, Don Quixote with greatcomposure lifted up his voice and said:
"One of the greatest sins that men are guilty of is- some will saypride- but I say ingratitude, going by the common saying that hellis full of ingrates. This sin, so far as it has lain in my power, Ihave endeavoured to avoid ever since I have enjoyed the faculty ofreason; and if I am unable to requite good deeds that have been doneme by other deeds, I substitute the desire to do so; and if that benot enough I make them known publicly; for he who declares and makesknown the good deeds done to him would repay them by others if it werein his power, and for the most part those who receive are theinferiors of those who give. Thus, God is superior to all because heis the supreme giver, and the offerings of man fall short by aninfinite distance of being a full return for the gifts of God; butgratitude in some degree makes up for this deficiency and shortcoming.I therefore, grateful for the favour that has been extended to mehere, and unable to make a return in the same measure, restricted as Iam by the narrow limits of my power, offer what I can and what Ihave to offer in my own way; and so I declare that for two full days Iwill maintain in the middle of this highway leading to Saragossa, thatthese ladies disguised as shepherdesses, who are here present, are thefairest and most courteous maidens in the world, excepting only thepeerless Dulcinea del Toboso, sole mistress of my thoughts, be it saidwithout offence to those who hear me, ladies and gentlemen."
On hearing this Sancho, who had been listening with great attention,cried out in a loud voice, "Is it possible there is anyone in theworld who will dare to say and swear that this master of mine is amadman? Say, gentlemen shepherds, is there a village priest, be heever so wise or learned, who could say what my master has said; oris there knight-errant, whatever renown he may have as a man ofvalour, that could offer what my master has offered now?"
Don Quixote turned upon Sancho, and with a countenance glowingwith anger said to him, "Is it possible, Sancho, there is anyone inthe whole world who will say thou art not a fool, with a lining tomatch, and I know not what trimmings of impertinence and roguery?Who asked thee to meddle in my affairs, or to inquire whether I am awise man or a blockhead? Hold thy peace; answer me not a word;saddle Rocinante if he be unsaddled; and let us go to put my offerinto execution; for with the right that I have on my side thoumayest reckon as vanquished all who shall venture to question it;" andin a great rage, and showing his anger plainly, he rose from his seat,leaving the company lost in wonder, and making them feel doubtfulwhether they ought to regard him as a madman or a rational being. Inthe end, though they sought to dissuade him from involving himselfin such a challenge, assuring him they admitted his gratitude as fullyestablished, and needed no fresh proofs to be convinced of his valiantspirit, as those related in the history of his exploits weresufficient, still Don Quixote persisted in his resolve; and mounted onRocinante, bracing his buckler on his arm and grasping his lance, heposted himself in the middle of a high road that was not far fromthe green meadow. Sancho followed on Dapple, together with all themembers of the pastoral gathering, eager to see what would be theupshot of his vainglorious and extraordinary proposal.