CHAP. XV. Which speaks of that which after befell in the Inne; and of sundry other things worthy to bee known. T He Captive having said this, held his peace; and Don Fernando replyed to him thus; Truely Captain, the manner wherewith all you have recounted this marvellous successe, hath been such, as it may bee parragon'd to the noveltie and strangenesse of the event it self: And so great is the delight wee have taken in the hearing thereof, as I doe beleeve, that although wee had spent the time from hence till to morrow, in listening to it, yet should wee bee glad to hear it told over once again. And saying so, Cardenio and all the rest did offer themselves and their means to his service, as much as lay in them with so cordiall and friendly words as the Captive remained throughly satisfied with their good wits: but specially Don Fernando offered, that if hee would return with him, hee would cause the Marquesse his Brother to bee Zoraida her Godfather in Baptisme; and that hee for his part, would so accommodate him with all things necessary, as hee might enter into the Town with the decencie and authoritie due to his person. The Captive did gatifie his large offers very courteously, but would not accept any of them at that time. By this the night drew on, and about the fall thereof there arived at the Inne a Coach with some men a Horse-back and asked for lodging; to whom the Hostesse answered, that in all the Inne there was not a span free; the number of her Guests was already so many. Well, although that be so, quoth one of the Horse-men that had entred, yet must there bee a place found for Master Justice who comes in this Coach. At this name the Ho stesse was afraid, and said, Sir, the misfortune, is, that I have no beds: but if Master Justice brings one with him, as it is probable hee doth, let him enter in boldly, and I and my Husband will leave our own Chamber to accommodate his Worship. So bee it, quoth the Squire; and by this time alighted out of the Coach a man whose attire did presently denote his Dignity and Office; for his long Gown and his great and large Sleeves did shew that hee was a Judge, as the Servingmen affirmed. Hee led a young Mayden by the hand of about some sixteen yeers old, apparelled in riding attire; but shee was therewithall of so disposed, beautifull, and cheerfull a countenance, as her presence did strike them all into admiration; so as if they had not seen Dorotea, Lu sci • da and Zoraida which were then in the Inne, they would hardly have believed that this Damzels beauty might any where have been matched. Don-Quixote was present at the Judges and the Gentlewomans entry: and so, as soon as hee had seen him, hee said, Sir, you may boldly enter and take your ease in this Castle, which although it bee but little and ill accommodated, yet there is no nar rownesse nor discommodity in the world but makes place for Armes and Learning, and specially if the Armes and Letters bring Beauty for their guide and leader as your Learning doth, conducted by this lovely Damzell, to whom ought not only Castles to open and manifest themselves, but also Rocks to part and divide their Cliffs and Moun tains to bow their ambitious crests to give and make her a lodging: Enter therefore, I say, Worshipfull Sir, into this Paradise, wherein you shall finde Starrs and Sunns to accompanie this Skie which you bring along with you: Here shall you finde Armes in their height, and beauty in her prime. The Judge marvailed greatly at Don Quixotes speech, whom hee began to behold very earnestly, and wondred no lesse at his shape then at his words, and knowing not what answer hee might return him, hee was diverted on the other side, by the suddain approach of the three Ladies Lu scinda, Dorotea and Zoraida which stood before him: for having heard of the arrivall of new Ghests, and also being informed, by the Oastesse, of the young Ladies beautie, they were come forth to see and entertaine her. But Don Fernando, Carde nio and the Curate, did give him more compleate and courtly Entertainement then the rustie Knight. In effect, the Judge was marveilously amazed at that which hee saw and heard in that Inne: And the fayre Guests thereof bade the beautifull May den welcome. The Judge perceived very well, that the Guests of the Inne were all men of account: but Don Quixotes feature, visage and behaviour, did set him out of all byas, being not able to conjecture what hee might bee; and after some courtlike in tercourses pas • ed, and the commodities of the Inne examined, they all agreed againe, as they had done before, that all the women should enter into Don-Quixotes Roome, and the men remaine without in their Guard. And so the Judge was content that the Damzell, who was his Daughter, should also goe with those Ladies, which shee did with a very good will: and with a part of the In-keepers narrow bed, and halfe of that which the Judge had brought with him, they made shift to passe over that night the best they could. The Captive, who from the instant that hee had first seene the Judge, did greatly suspect that hee was his Brother, and demanded of one of his servants how hee was cal led, and where hee was borne? The other answered how hee was called the Licentia • Iohn Perez of Viedma, and as hee had heard, hee was borne in a Village of the Moun taines of Leon. With this relation and the rest that hee had noted, hee finally confir med his opinion that it was the brother, who following his Father advice, had dedica ted himselfe to his Studies; and full of joy and contentment, calling aside Don Fernan do, Cardenio and the Curate, hee certified them of all that passed, and that the Judge was his Brother. The Servingman told him likewise how hee went towards the Indies, where hee had his place and office in the Courts of Mexico; and also that the young Gentlewoman was his Daughter, of whose byrth her Mother had died, and hee ever af ter remained a widower, and very rich, by her Dowrie and Portion that shee had left to her Daughter: Hee demanded of them advice how hee might discover himselfe to his Brother, or first know, whether after hee had detected himselfe, hee would receive him with a good countenance and affection, and not bee ashamed to acknowledge him for his Brother, seeing him in so poore an estate. Leave the tryall of that experience to mee, quoth the Curate, and the rather, because there is no occasion why you, Sir Cap taine, should not bee kindly entertained by him: for the Prudence, Worths and good countenance of your Brother, give manifest tokens that hee is nothing arro gant. For all that, said the Captaine, I would not make my selfe knowne on the suddaine, but would use some pretty ambages to bring him acquainted with mee. I say unto you, quoth the Curate, that I will trace the matter in such sort, as wee all will rest satisfied. Supper was by this made ready, and all of them sate downe to the table, the captive excepted and Ladies, which supped together within the roome; and about the midst of supper the Curate said, Master Justice, I have had in times past a comrade of your very surname in Constantinople, where I was sometime captive, who was one of the most valiant Souldiers and Captaines that might bee found among all the Spanish foote; but hee was as unfortunate as hee was valorous and resolute. And how was that Captaine called, good Sir quoth the Judge? His name was replyed Master Curate, Ruy Perez Viedma, and hee was borne in a Village of the Mountaines of Leon; and hee recoun ted unto mee an occurrence hapned betweene his Father, him, and his other Brethren; which if I had not beene told by a man of such credit and reputation as hee was, I would have esteemed for one of these fables which old Wives are wont to rehearse by the fire side in Winter; for hee said to mee, that his Father had divided his goods among his three sonnes, and gave them withall certaine Precepts, better then those of Cato; and I know well, that the choice which hee made to follow the Warre had such happy success, as within a few yeeres, through his forwardnesse and valour, without the helpe of any other arme, hee was advanced to a company of Foote, and made a Captaine, and was in the way and course of becomming one day a Colonell; but Fortune was contrary to him, for even there where he was most to expect her favour, hee lost it, with the losse of his Liberty in that most happy journey wherein so many recovered it, to wit, in the Battell of Lepanto. I lost mine in Goleta, and after by different successe wee became companions in Constantinople; from whence wee went to Argiers, where did befall him one of the most notable Adventures that ever hapned in the World; and there the Curate with succinct brevitie recounted all that had hapned between the Captain and Zoraida: to all which the Judge was so attentive, as in all his life hee never listened to any cause so attentively as then: And the Curate only arived to the point wherein the French-men spoyled the Christians that came in the Barke, and the necessitie where in his Companion and the beautifull Zoraida remained; of whom hee had not learned any thing after, nor knew not what became of them, or whether they came into Spain, or were carried away by the French-men into France. The Captain stood listening somewhat aloof off to all the Curates words, and noted the while the motions and gestures of his brother; who seeing that the Curate had now made an end of his Speech, breathing forth a great sigh, and his eyes being filled with teares, hee said, O Sir, if you had known the news which you have told me, and how neerly they touch me in some points, whereby I am constrained to manifest these teares, which violently break forth in despight of my discretion and calling, you would hold me excused for this excesse. That Captaine of whom you spoke is my eldest Bro ther, who, as one stronger and of more noble thoughts then I or my younger Brother, made election of the honourable military calling, one of the three estates which our Father proposed to us, even as your Comrade informed, when as you thought hee related a Fable: I followed my Book, by which God and my dilligence raised me to the State you see: My younger Brother is in Peru, and with that which hee hath sent to my Father and my self, hath bountifully recompenced the portion hee car ried, and given to him sufficient to satisfie his liberall disposition, and to me where withall to continue my Studies with the decencie and authority needfull to advance me to the rank which now I possesse. My Father lives yet, but dying through desire to learne somewhat of his eldest Sonne, and doth dayly importune God with inces • ant prayers, that death may not shut his eyes untill hee may once again see him alive. I only marvell not a little, considering his discreetion, that among all his labours, affli ctions or prosperous successes hee hath been so carelesse in giving his Father notice of his Proceedings: for if either hee, or any one of us had known of his Captivity, hee should not have needed to expect the miracle of the Cane for his Ransome. But that which troubles me most of all, is, to think whether these French-men have restored him again to libertie or else slain him, that they might conceale their robberie the better; all which will bee an occasion to me to prosecute my Voyage, not with the joy where withall I began it, but rather with Melancholy and Sorrow. O dear Brother, I would I might know now where thou art, that I my self might goe and search thee out, and free thee from thy pains, although it were with the hazard of mine own. O who is hee that could carrie news to our old Father, that thou wert but alive, although thou were hidden in the most abstruse Dungeons of Barbarie? for his Riches, my Brothers, and mine would fetch thee from thence. O beautifull and bountifull Zoraida, who might bee able to recompence thee for the good thou hast done to my Brother? How happie were hee that might bee present at thy Spirituall Birth and Baptisme, and at thy nuptials which would bee so gratefull to us all? These and many other such words did the Judge deliver, so full of compassion for the news that hee had received of his Bro ther, as all that heard him kept him companie in shewing signes of compassion for his sorrow. The Curate therefore perceiving the happie successe whereto his designe and the Captains desire had sorted, would hold the company sad no longer; and therefore arising from the Table, and entring into the Room wherein Zoraida was, hee took her by the hand, and after her followed Luscinda, Dorotea, and the Judge his Daughter: the Captain stood still to see what the Curate would doe, who taking him fast by the other hand, martched over with them both towards the Judge and the other Gentle men and said, Suppresse your teares, Master Justice, and glut your desire with all that good which it may desire, seeing you have here before you your good brother, and your loving sister in law: this man whom you view here, is the Captaine Viedma, and this the beautifull Moore, which hath done so much for him. The Frenchmen which I told you of, have reduced them to the povertie you see, to the end that you may shew the liberalitie of your noble brest. Then did the Captaine draw neere, to embrace his brother: but hee held him off a while with his armes to note whether it was hee or no; but when hee once knew him, hee embraced him so lovingly, and with such abundance of teares, as did attract the like from all the behol ders. The words that the brothers spoke one to another, or the feeling affection which they shewed, can hardly bee conceived, and therefore much lesse written by any one whatsoever. There they did briefly recount the one to the other their successes: there did they shew the true love and affection of brothers in his prime: there did the Judge embrace Zoraida: there hee made her an of • er of all that was his: there did hee also cause his Daughter to embrace her: there the beautifull Christian, and the most beau tifull Moore renewed the teares of them all: There Don-Quixote was attentive, with out speaking a word, pondering of these rare occurrences, and attributing them to the Chimeraes which hee imagined to bee incident to Chivalrie: and there they agreed that the Captaine and Zoraida should returne with their brother to Sivill, and thence ad vise their Father of his finding and libertie, that he, as well as hee might, should come to Sivill to the Baptisme and Marriage of Zoraida, because the Judge could not possibly returne, or discontinue his journey, in respect that the Indian Fleete was to depart with in a Moneth from Sivill towards new Spaine. Every one in conclusion was joyfull and glad at the captives good successe: and two parts of the night being wel nigh spent, they all agreed to repose themselves a while. Don-Quixote offered himselfe to watch and gaurd the Castle whilst they slept, lest they should bee assaulted by some Giant or other miscreant, desirous to rob the great Treasure of beautie that was therein immured and kep • . Those that knew him rendred unto him infinite thankes: and withall informed the Judge of his extravagant humor, whereat hee was not a little recreated: onely Sancho Panca did fret, because they went so slowly to sleepe, and hee alone was best accommoda ted of them all, by lying downe on his beasts furniture which cost him deerely, as shall bee after recounted. The Ladies being withdrawne into their Chamber, and every one laying himselfe downe where best hee might, Don-Quixote sallied out of the Inne, to bee Centinell of the Castle as hee had promised. And a little before day it happened, that so sweet and tuneable a voyce touched the Ladies eares, as it obliged them all to listen unto it very attentively, but chiefly Dorotea, who first a waked, and by whose side the young Gentlewoman Donna Clara of Viedma (for so the Judges Daughter was called) slept. None of them could imagine who it was that sung so well without the help of any instrument: sometimes it seemed that hee sung in the yard, others that it was in the Stable: and being thus in suspence, Cardenio came to the Chamber-dore, and said, Whosoever is not asleepe, let them give eare, and they shall heare the voice of a Lackey that so chants, as it likewise in chants. Sir, quoth Dorotea, wee heare him very well. With this Cardenio departed, and Dorotea using all the attention possible, heard that his song was this following.