"Puttingthis, however, aside, foritisapuzzlingquestionforwhichitisdifficulttofindasolution, letusreturntothesuperiorityofarmsoverletters, amatterstillundecided, somanyaretheargumentsputforwardoneachside; forbesidesthoseIhavementioned, letterssaythatwithoutthemarmscannotmaintainthemselves, forwar, too, hasitslawsandisgovernedbythem, , forbyarmsstatesaredefended, kingdomspreserved, citiesprotected, roadsmadesafe, seasclearedofpirates; and, inshort, ifitwerenotforthem, states, kingdoms, monarchies, cities, waysbyseaandlandwouldbeexposedtotheviolenceandconfusionwhichwarbringswithit, , watching, hunger, nakedness, headaches, indigestions, andotherthingsofthesort, , andinanincomparablyhigherdegree, , whofindshimselfbeleagueredinsomestrongholdmountingguardinsomeravelinorcavalier, knowsthattheenemyispushingaminetowardsthepostwhereheisstationed, andcannotunderanycircumstancesretireorflyfromtheimminentdangerthatthreatenshim? Allhecandoistoinformhiscaptainofwhatisgoingonsothathemaytrytoremedyitbyacounter-mine, , letusseewhetheritisequalledorsurpassedbytheencounteroftwogalleysstemtostem, inthemidstoftheopensea, lockedandentangledonewiththeother, whenthesoldierhasnomorestandingroomthantwofeetoftheplankofthespur; andyet, thoughheseesbeforehimthreateninghimasmanyministersofdeathastherearecannonofthefoepointedathim, notalancelengthfromhisbody, andseestoothatwiththefirstheedlessstephewillgodowntovisittheprofunditiesofNeptune'sbosom, stillwithdauntlessheart, urgedonbyhonourthatnerveshim, hemakeshimselfatargetforallthatmusketry, andstrugglestocrossthatnarrowpathtotheenemy', nosoonerhasonegonedownintothedepthshewillneverrisefromtilltheendoftheworld, thananothertakeshisplace; andifhetoofallsintotheseathatwaitsforhimlikeanenemy, anotherandanotherwillsucceedhimwithoutamoment'spausebetweentheirdeaths: , whoseinventorIampersuadedisinhellreceivingtherewardofhisdiabolicalinvention, bywhichhemadeiteasyforabaseandcowardlyarmtotakethelifeofagallantgentleman; andthat, whenheknowsnothoworwhence, intheheightoftheardourandenthusiasmthatfireandanimatebravehearts, thereshouldcomesomerandombullet, dischargedperhapsbyonewhofledinterrorattheflashwhenhefiredoffhisaccursedmachine, , IamalmosttemptedtosaythatinmyheartIrepentofhavingadoptedthisprofessionofknight-errantinsodetestableanageasweliveinnow; forthoughnoperilcanmakemefear, 'swillbedone; ifIsucceedinmyattemptIshallbeallthemorehonoured, asIhavefacedgreaterdangersthantheknights-errantofyoreexposedthemselvesto."
AllthislengthydiscourseDonQuixotedeliveredwhiletheotherssupped, forgettingtoraiseamorseltohislips, thoughSanchomorethanoncetoldhimtoeathissupper, , andwithrationalviewsoneverysubjecthediscussed, sohopelesslywantinginall, , andthathehimself, thoughamanoflettersandagraduate, wasofthesameopinion.
Theyfinishedtheirsupper, theclothwasremoved, andwhilethehostess, herdaughter, andMaritornesweregettingDonQuixoteofLaMancha'sgarretready, inwhichitwasarrangedthatthewomenweretobequarteredbythemselvesforthenight, DonFernandobeggedthecaptivetotellthemthestoryofhislife, foritcouldnotfailtobestrangeandinteresting, , onlyhefearedhistalewouldnotgivethemasmuchpleasureashewished; nevertheless, nottobewantingincompliance, , andhefindinghimselfsopressedsaidtherewasnooccasionask, whereacommandhadsuchweight, andadded, "Ifyourworshipswillgivemeyourattentionyouwillhearatruestorywhich, perhaps, fictitiousonesconstructedwithingeniousandstudiedartcannotcomeupto." Thesewordsmadethemsettlethemselvesintheirplacesandpreserveadeepsilence, andheseeingthemwaitingonhiswordsinmuteexpectation, beganthusinapleasantquietvoice.
