Seeingwhatwasgoingon, DonQuixotesaidinanangryvoice, "Discourteousknight, itillbecomesyoutoassailonewhocannotdefendhimself; mountyoursteedandtakeyourlance" (fortherewasalanceleaningagainsttheoaktowhichthemarewastied), "andIwillmakeyouknowthatyouarebehavingasacoward." Thefarmer, seeingbeforehimthisfigureinfullarmourbrandishingalanceoverhishead, gavehimselfupfordead, andmadeanswermeekly, "SirKnight, thisyouththatIamchastisingismyservant, employedbymetowatchaflockofsheepthatIhavehardby, andheissocarelessthatIloseoneeveryday, andwhenIpunishhimforhiscarelessnessandknaveryhesaysIdoitoutofniggardliness, toescapepayinghimthewagesIowehim, andbeforeGod, andonmysoul, helies."
"Liesbeforeme, baseclown!" saidDonQuixote."; ifnot, bytheGodthatrulesusIwillmakeanendofyou, andannihilateyouonthespot; releasehiminstantly."
Thefarmerhunghishead, andwithoutaworduntiedhisservant, ofwhom
DonQuixoteaskedhowmuchhismasterowedhim.
Hereplied, , foundthatitcametosixty-threereals, andtoldthefarmertopayitdownimmediately, ifhedidnotwanttodieforit.
Thetremblingclownrepliedthatashelivedandbytheoathhehadsworn (thoughhehadnotswornany) itwasnotsomuch; forthereweretobetakenintoaccountanddeductedthreepairsofshoeshehadgivenhim, andarealfortwoblood-lettingswhenhewassick.
