On the other side, Don Quixote, who was used to have his stirrup held when he dismounted, thinking Sancho had hold of it already, lifted up his right leg over the saddle to alight; but as it happened to be ill-girt, down he brought it with himself to the ground, confounded with shame, and muttering between his teeth many a hearty curse against San+ cho, who was all the while with his foot in the stocks. The duke seeing them in that condition, ordered some of his people to help them; and they raised Don Quixote, who was in no very good case with his fall; however, limping as well as he could, he went to pay his duty to the lady, and would have fallen on his knees at her horse's feet: But the duke alighting, would by no means permit it; and embracing Don Quixote, "I am sorry," said he, " Sir Knight of the Woful Figure, that such a mischance should happen to you at your first appearance on my territories, but the negligence of squires is often the cause of worse accidents.""Most generous prince," said Don Quixote, "I can think nothing bad that could befall me here, since I have had the happiness of seeing your grace: For though I had fallen low as the very centre, the glory of this interview would raise me up again. My squire indeed, a vengeance seize him for it, is much more apt to give his saucy idle tongue a loose, than to gird a saddle well; but prostrate or erect, on horseback or on foot, in any posture I shall always be at your grace's command, and no less at her grace's, your worthy con sort's service. Worthy did I say? yes, she is worthy to be called the Queen of Beauty and Sovereign Lady

of all Courtesy."-" Pardon me there," said the duke, "noble Don Quixote de la Mancha; where the peerless Dulcinea is remembered, the praise of all other beauties ought to be forgot."

Sancho was now got clear of the noose, and standing near the duchess," An't please your worship's highness," quoth he, before his master could answer, "it cannot be denied, nay, I dare vouch it in any ground in Spain, that my Lady Dulcinea del Toboso is woundy handsome and fair: But, where we least think, there starts the hare. I have heard your great scholards say, That she you call Dame Nature, is like a potter, and he that makes one handsome pipkin may make two or three hundred. And so, do ye see, you may understand by this, that my Lady Duchess here does not a jot come short of my Lady Dulcinea del Toboso." Don Quixote, upon this, addressing himself to the duchess, "Your grace must know," said he, " that no knight-errant ever had such an eternal babbler, such a bundle of conceit for a squire, as I have; and if I have the honour to continue for some time in your service, your grace will find it true."-" I am glad," answered the duchess, "that honest Sancho has his conceits, it is a shrewd sign he is wise; for merry conceits, you know, sir, are not the offspring of a dull brain, and therefore if Sancho be jovial and jocose, I will warrant him also a man of sense."-"And a prater, madam," added Don Quixote.-" So much the better," said the duke; "for a man that talks well, can never talk too much. But not to lose our time here, come on, Sir Knight of the Woful Fi

gure "Knight of the Lions, your highness should say," quoth Sancho: "The Woful Figure is out of date; and so pray let the lions come in play." -"Well then," said the duke, "I entreat the Knight of the Lions to vouchsafe us his presence at a castle I have hard by, where he shall find such entertainment as is justly due to so eminent a personage, such honours as the duchess and myself are wont to pay all knights-errant that travel this way."

Sancho having by this got Rozinante ready, and girded the saddle tight, Don Quixote mounted his steed, and the duke a stately horse of his own; and the duchess riding between them both, they moved towards the castle: She desired that Sancho might always attend near her, for she was extremely taken with his notable sayings. Sancho was not hard to be entreated, but crowded in between them, and made a fourth in their conversation, to the great satisfaction both of the duke and duchess, who esteemed themselves very fortunate in having an opportunity to entertain at their castle such a knighterrant and such an erring squire.

CHAPTER XXXI.

Which treats of many and great Matters.

SANCHO was overjoyed to find himself so much in the duchess's favour, flattering himself that he should fare no worse at her castle, than he had done at Don

Diego's and Basil's houses; for he was ever a cordial friend to a plentiful way of living, and therefore never failed to take such opportunities by the foretop wherever he met them. Now the history tells us, that before they got to the castle, the duke rode away from them, to instruct his servants how to be have themselves toward Don Quixote; so that no sooner did the knight come near the gates, but he was met by two of the duke's lacquies or grooms in long vests, like night-gowns, of fine crimson sattin. These suddenly took him in their arms, and, lifting him from his horse without any further ceremony, "Go, great and mighty sir," said they," and help my Lady Duchess down." Thereupon Don Quixote went and offered to do it; and many compliments, and much ceremony passed on both sides: but in conclusion, the duchess's earnestness prevailed; for she would not alight from her palfrey but in the arms of her husband, excusing herself from incommoding so great a knight with so insignificant a burden. With that the duke took her down.

And now, being entered into a large court-yard, there came two beautiful damsels, who threw a long mantle of fine scarlet over Don Quixote's shoulders. In an instant, all the galleries about the court-yard were crowded with men and women, the domestics of the duke, who cried out, "Welcome, welcome, the flower and cream of knight-errantry!" Then most, if not all of them, sprinkled whole bottles of sweet water upon Don Quixote, the duke, and the duchess: All which agreeably surprised the Don, and this was indeed the first day he knew and firmly believed

himself to be a real knight-errant, and that his knight-hood was more than fancy; finding himself treated just as he had read the brothers of the order were entertained in former ages.

Sancho was so transported, that he even forsook his beloved Dapple, to keep close to the duchess, and entered the castle with the company: But his conscience flying in his face for leaving that dear companion of his alone, he went to a reverend old waiting-woman, who was one of the duchess's retinue, and whispering her in the ear," Mrs Gonsalez, or Mrspray for sooth may I crave your name?"— "Donna Rodriguez de Grijalva is my name," said the old duenna; "what is your business with me, friend?"—" Pray now, mistress," quoth Sancho, "do so much as go out at the castle gate, where you will find a dapple ass of mine; see him put into the stable, or else put him in yourself; for poor thing, it is main fearful and timorsome, and cannot abide to be alone in a strange place."-" If the master," said she pettishly," has no more manners than the man, we shall have a fine time on't. Get you gone, you saucy jack! the devil take thee and him that brought you hither to affront me. Go seek somewhere else for ladies to look to your ass, you lolpoop! I would have you to know, that gentlewomen like me are not used to such drudgeries."

"Don't take pepper in your nose at it," replied Sancho; "you need not be so frumpish, mistress. As good as you have done it. I have heard my master say (and he knows all the histories in the world,) that when Sir Lancelot came out of Britain,