Don Quixote — Chapter 44 in Spanish
By Miguel de Cervantes
En efeto, fueron tantas las voces que don Quijote dio, que, abriendo de presto las puertas de la venta, salió el ventero, despavorido, a ver quién tales gritos daba, y los que estaban fuera hicieron lo mesmo. So loud, in fact, were the shouts of Don Quixote, that the landlord opening the gate of the inn in all haste, came out in dismay, and ran to see who was uttering such cries, and those who were outside joined him. Maritornes, que ya había despertado a las mismas voces, imaginando lo que podía ser, se fue al pajar y desató, sin que nadie lo viese, el cabestro que a don Quijote sostenía, y él dio luego en el suelo, a vista del ventero y de los caminantes, que, llegándose a él, le preguntaron qué tenía, que tales voces daba. Maritornes, who had been by this time roused up by the same outcry, suspecting what it was, ran to the loft and, without anyone seeing her, untied the halter by which Don Quixote was suspended, and down he came to the ground in the sight of the landlord and the travellers, who approaching asked him what was the matter with him that he shouted so. Él, sin responder palabra, se quitó el cordel de la muñeca, y, levantándose en pie, subió sobre Rocinante, embrazó su adarga, enristró su lanzón, y, tomando buena parte del campo, volvió a medio galope, diciendo: He without replying a word took the rope off his wrist, and rising to his feet leaped upon Rocinante, braced his buckler on his arm, put his lance in rest, and making a considerable circuit of the plain came back at a half-gallop exclaiming:
— Cualquiera que dijere que yo he sido con justo título encantado, como mi señora la princesa Micomicona me dé licencia para ello, yo le desmiento, le rieto y desafío a singular batalla. "Whoever shall say that I have been enchanted with just cause, provided my lady the Princess Micomicona grants me permission to do so, I give him the lie, challenge him and defy him to single combat."
Admirados se quedaron los nuevos caminantes de las palabras de don Quijote, pero el ventero les quitó de aquella admiración, diciéndoles que era don Quijote, y que no había que hacer caso dél, porque estaba fuera de juicio. The newly arrived travellers were amazed at the words of Don Quixote; but the landlord removed their surprise by telling them who he was, and not to mind him as he was out of his senses. Preguntáronle al ventero si acaso había llegado a aquella venta un muchacho de hasta edad de quince años, que venía vestido como mozo de mulas, de tales y tales señas, dando las mesmas que traía el amante de doña Clara. El ventero respondió que había tanta gente en la venta, que no había echado de ver en el que preguntaban. They then asked the landlord if by any chance a youth of about fifteen years of age had come to that inn, one dressed like a muleteer, and of such and such an appearance, describing that of Dona Clara's lover. Pero, habiendo visto uno dellos el coche donde había venido el oidor, dijo: — Aquí debe de estar sin duda, porque éste es el coche que él dicen que sigue; quédese uno de nosotros a la puerta y entren los demás a buscarle; y aun sería bien que uno de nosotros rodease toda la venta, porque no se fuese por las bardas de los corrales. The landlord replied that there were so many people in the inn he had not noticed the person they were inquiring for; but one of them observing the coach in which the Judge had come, said, "He is here no doubt, for this is the coach he is following: let one of us stay at the gate, and the rest go in to look for him; or indeed it would be as well if one of us went round the inn, lest he should escape over the wall of the yard." — Así se hará —respondió uno dellos. Y, entrándose los dos dentro, uno se quedó a la puerta y el otro se fue a rodear la venta; todo lo cual veía el ventero, y no sabía atinar para qué se hacían aquellas diligencias, puesto que bien creyó que buscaban aquel mozo cuyas señas le habían dado. "So be it," said another; and while two of them went in, one remained at the gate and the other made the circuit of the inn; observing all which, the landlord was unable to conjecture for what reason they were taking all these precautions, though he understood they were looking for the youth whose description they had given him.
Ya a esta sazón aclaraba el día; y, así por esto como por el ruido que don Quijote había hecho, estaban todos despiertos y se levantaban, especialmente doña Clara y Dorotea, que la una con sobresalto de tener tan cerca a su amante, y la otra con el deseo de verle, habían podido dormir bien mal aquella noche. It was by this time broad daylight; and for that reason, as well as in consequence of the noise Don Quixote had made, everybody was awake and up, but particularly Dona Clara and Dorothea; for they had been able to sleep but badly that night, the one from agitation at having her lover so near her, the other from curiosity to see him. Don Quijote, que vio que ninguno de los cuatro caminantes hacía caso dél, ni le respondían a su demanda, moría y rabiaba de despecho y saña; y si él hallara en las ordenanzas de su caballería que lícitamente podía el caballero andante tomar y emprender otra empresa, habiendo dado su palabra y fe de no ponerse en ninguna hasta acabar la que había prometido, él embistiera con todos, y les hiciera responder mal de su grado. Don Quixote, when he saw that not one of the four travellers took any notice of him or replied to his challenge, was furious and ready to die with indignation and wrath; and if he could have found in the ordinances of chivalry that it was lawful for a knight-errant to undertake or engage in another enterprise, when he had plighted his word and faith not to involve himself in any until he had made an end of the one to which he was pledged, he would have attacked the whole of them, and would have made them return an answer in spite of themselves. Pero, por parecerle no convenirle ni estarle bien comenzar nueva empresa hasta poner a Micomicona en su reino, hubo de callar y estarse quedo, esperando a ver en qué paraban las diligencias de aquellos caminantes; uno de los cuales halló al mancebo que buscaba, durmiendo al lado de un mozo de mulas, bien descuidado de que nadie ni le buscase, ni menos de que le hallase. But considering that it would not become him, nor be right, to begin any new emprise until he had established Micomicona in her kingdom, he was constrained to hold his peace and wait quietly to see what would be the upshot of the proceedings of those same travellers; one of whom found the youth they were seeking lying asleep by the side of a muleteer, without a thought of anyone coming in search of him, much less finding him.