MARGARltA. 69 



with a loud voice, ' O thou, whosoever thou art, rash knight I who 

 approachest the armour of the most valiant adventurer that ever girded 

 sword, beware of what thou dost, and touch it not, unless thou wouldst 

 yield thy life as the forfeit cf thy temerity.' The carrier heeded not 

 this admonition (though better would it have been for him if he had), 

 but, seizing hold of the straps, he threw the armour some distance from 

 him ; which Don Quixote perceiving, he raised his eyes to heaven, and 

 addressing his thoughts, apparently, to his lady Dulcinka, said: 

 ' Assist me, O lady, to avenge this first insult offered to your vassal's 

 breast ; nor let your favour and proteftion fail me in this first perilous 

 encounter.' Having uttered these and similar ejaculations, he let slip 

 his target, and raising his lance with both hands, he gave the carrier 

 such a stroke upon the head that he fell to the grouud in so grievous a 

 plight that, had the stroke been repeated, there would have been no 

 need of a surgeon. This done, he replaced his armour, and continued 

 his parade with the same tranquility as before." 

 At daylight these idle fancies were unceremoniously 

 dispelled by the appearance of coffee and the necessity 

 of taking to the road betimes. In the early morning 

 (Tuesday the 16th) we rode out of Asuncion en route 

 for Juan Griego and soon reached the Sierras, our 

 animals having gingerly to climb a zigzag path paved with 

 huge solid boulders, dating from the Spanish time. 

 Here new visions of DON Quixote quite overcame one — 

 why should not these Sierras be the veritable Sierra 

 Morena ? They were dry enough, and wild and brown 

 enough ; one had but to fancy the gaunt, half naked, but 

 chivalrous form of the old knight with his rosary made 

 from the galls of Cork trees doing penance to the fair 

 DULCINEA DEL TOBOSO. 



" Ye lofty trees, with spreading arms 



The pride and shelter of the plain ; 



Ye humbler shrubs and flowr*y charms, 



Which here in springing glory reign I 



If my complaints your pity move, 



Hear the sad story of my love] 



