Thefactwasthatthecloudshadthatyearwithheldtheirmoisturefromtheearth, andinallthevillagesofthedistricttheywereorganisingprocessions, rogations, andpenances, imploringGodtoopenthehandsofhismercyandsendtherain; , withoutreflectinghowoftenhehadseenitbefore, tookitintohisheadthatthiswasacaseofadventure, andthatitfelltohimaloneasaknight-erranttoengageinit; andhewasallthemoreconfirmedinthisnotion, , andtakingthebridleandthebucklerfromthesaddle-bow, hehadhimbridledinaninstant, andcallingtoSanchoforhisswordhemountedRocinante, bracedhisbuckleronhisarm, andinaloudvoiceexclaimedtothosewhostoodby, "Now, noblecompany, yeshallseehowimportantitisthatthereshouldbeknightsintheworldprofessingtheorderofknight-errantry; now, Isay, yeshallsee, bythedeliveranceofthatworthyladywhoisbornecaptivethere, whetherknights-errantdeservetobeheldinestimation," andsosayinghebroughthislegstobearonRocinante—forhehadnospurs—andatafullcanter (forinallthisveracioushistoryweneverreadofRocinantefairlygalloping) setofftoencounterthepenitents, thoughthecurate, thecanon, , nordidheevenstopfortheshoutsofSanchocallingafterhim, "Whereareyougoing, SenorDonQuixote? WhatdevilshavepossessedyoutosetyouonagainstourCatholicfaith? Plaguetakeme! mind, thatisaprocessionofpenitents, , senor, forthistimeitmaybesafelysaidyoudon'tknowwhatyouareabout." Sancholabouredinvain, forhismasterwassobentoncomingtoquarterswiththesesheetedfiguresandreleasingtheladyinblackthathedidnothearaword; andevenhadheheard, , whowasalreadyanxiousenoughtoslackenspeedalittle, andinahoarse, excitedvoiceheexclaimed, "Youwhohideyourfaces, perhapsbecauseyouarenotgoodsubjects, payattentionandlistentowhatIamabouttosaytoyou." Thefirsttohaltwerethosewhowerecarryingtheimage, andoneofthefourecclesiasticswhowerechantingtheLitany, struckbythestrangefigureofDonQuixote, theleannessofRocinante, andtheotherludicrouspeculiaritiesheobserved, saidinreplytohim, "Brother, ifyouhaveanythingtosaytoussayitquickly, forthesebrethrenarewhippingthemselves, andwecannotstop, norisitreasonableweshouldstoptohearanything, unlessindeeditisshortenoughtobesaidintwowords."
