comes it about that in all this time you could not get yourself a whole livery ?”—“ Alack-a-day, sir,” answered the lad, " I had a couple; but my mas ters dealt with me as they do with novices in monas teries; if they go off before they profess, the fresh habit is taken from them, and they return them their own clothes. For you must know, that such as I served, only buy liveries for a little ostentation; so, when they have made their appearance at court, they sneak down into the country, and then the poor servants are stripped, and must even betake themselves to their rags again.”

"A sordid trick," said Don Quixote; "or, as the Italians call it, a notorious espilorcheria. Well, you need not repine at leaving the court, since you do it with so good a design; for there is nothing in the world more commendable than to serve God in the first place, and the king in the next, especially in the profession of arms, which, if it does not procure a man so much riches as learning, may at least entitle him to more honour. It is true, that more families have been advanced by the gown, but yet your gentlemen of the sword, whatever the reason of it is, have always I know not what advantage above the men of learning; and something of glory and splendour attends them, that makes them outshine the rest of mankind. But take my advice along with you, child; if you intend to raise yourself by military employment, I would not have you be uneasy

* Espilorcheria, a beggarly mean action.

with the thoughts of what misfortunes may befall you; the worst can be but to die, and if it be a good honourable death, your fortune is made, and you are certainly happy. Julius Cæsar, that valiant Roman emperor, being asked what kind of death was best, 'That which is sudden and unexpected,' said he; and though his answer had a relish of paganism, yet, with respect to human infirmities, it was very judicious; for, suppose you should be cut off at the very first engagement by a cannon-ball, or the spring of a mine, what matters it ? it is all but dying, and there is an end of the business. As Terence says, a soldier makes a better figure dead in the field of battle, than alive and safe in flight. The more likely he is to rise in fame and preferment, the better discipline he keeps; the better he obeys, the better he will know how to command: and pray, observe, my friend, that it is more honourable for a soldier to smell of gun-powder than of musk and amber; or if old age overtakes you in this noble employment, though all over scars, though maimed and lame, you will still have honour to support you, and secure you from the contempt of poverty, nay, from poverty itself; for there is care taken that veterans and disabled soldiers may not want; neither are they to be used as some men do their negro slaves, who, when they are old, and past service, are turned naked out of doors, under pretence of freedom, to be made greater slaves to cold and hunger; a slavery from which nothing but death can set the wretches free. But I will say no more to you on this subject at this time. Get up behind me,

and I will carry you to the inn, where you shall sup with me, and to-morrow morning make the best of your way, and may heaven prosper your good designs."

The page excused himself from riding behind. the knight, but accepted of his invitation to supper very willingly. Sancho, who had all the while given ear to his master's discourse, is said to have been more than usually surprised, hearing him talk so wisely. Now blessing on thee, master of mine, thought he to himself, how comes it about that a man who says so many good things, should relate such ridiculous stories and whimsies as he would have us believe of Montesinos' cave? Well, Heaven knows best, and the proof of the pudding is the eating. By this time it began to grow dark, and they arrived at the inn, where Don Quixote alighting, asked presently for the man with the lances and halberts. The innkeeper answered, that he was rubbing down his mule in the stable. Sancho was very well pleased to be at his journey's end, and the more, that his master took the house for a real inn, and not for a castle, as he used to do. He and the scholar then set up the asses, giving Rozinante the best manger and standing in the stable.

CHAPTER XXV.

Where you find the grounds of the Braying Adventures, that of the Puppet-player, and the memorable divining of the fortune-telling Ape.

DON QUIXOTE was on thorns to know the strange story that the fellow upon the road engaged to tell him; so that, going into the stable, he minded him of his promise, and pressed him to relate the whole matter to him that moment. "My story will take up some time," quoth the man," and is not to be told standing: have a little patience, master of mine, let me make an end of serving my mule, then I will serve your worship, and tell you such things as will make you stare."" Do not let that hinder you," replied Don Quixote, " for I will help you myself." And so saying, he lent him a helping hand, cleansing the manger, and sifting the barley, which humble compliance obliged the fellow to tell his tale the more willingly; so that, seating himself upon a bench, with Don Quixote, the scholar, the page, Sancho, and the inn-keeper about him, for his full auditory, he began in this manner.

"It happened on a time, that, in a borough about some four leagues and a half from this place, one of the * aldermen lost his ass. They say it was by

* Rigidor.

the roguery of a waggish jade that was his maid; but that is neither here nor there the ass was lost

and gone, that is certain; and what is more, it could not be found neither high nor low. This same ass had been missing about a fortnight, some say more, some less, when another alderman of the same town, meeting this same losing alderman in the marketplace, Brother,' quoth he, ' pay me well, and I will tell you news of your ass. Troth!' replied the other, that I will; but then let me know where the poor beast is. Why,' answered the other, this morning what should I meet upon the mountains yonder but he, without either pack-saddle or furniture, and so lean that it grieved my heart to see him; but yet so wild and skittish, that when I would have driven him home before me, he ran away as the devil were in him, and got into the thickest of the wood. Now, if you please, we will both go together and look for him; I will but step home first and put up this ass, then I will come back to you, and we will about it out of hand. Truly, brother,' said the other, I am mightily beholden to you, and will do as much for you another time.' The story happened neither more nor less, but such as I tell you, for so all that know it relate it word for word. In short, the two aldermen, hand in hand, a-foot trudged up the hills, and hunted up and down; but after many a weary step, no ass was to be found. Upon which, quoth the alderman that had seen him to the other, Hark you me, brother, I have a device in my noddle to find out this same ass of yours, though he were under ground, as you shall hear.

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