Don Quixote — Chapter 69 in Spanish
By Miguel de Cervantes
Cuenta la historia que cuando don Quijote daba voces a Sancho que le trujese el yelmo, estaba él comprando unos requesones que los pastores le vendían; y, acosado de la mucha priesa de su amo, no supo qué hacer dellos, ni en qué traerlos, y, por no perderlos, que ya los tenía pagados, acordó de echarlos en la celada de su señor, y con este buen recado volvió a ver lo que le quería; el cual, en llegando, le dijo: The history tells that when Don Quixote called out to Sancho to bring him his helmet, Sancho was buying some curds the shepherds agreed to sell him, and flurried by the great haste his master was in did not know what to do with them or what to carry them in; so, not to lose them, for he had already paid for them, he thought it best to throw them into his master's helmet, and acting on this bright idea he went to see what his master wanted with him. El cual, en llegando, le exclamó: He, as he approached, exclaimed to him:
— Dame, amigo, esa celada; que yo sé poco de aventuras, o lo que allí descubro es alguna que me ha de necesitar, y me necesita, a tomar mis armas. "Give me that helmet, my friend, for either I know little of adventures, or what I observe yonder is one that will, and does, call upon me to arm myself."
El del Verde Gabán, que esto oyó, tendió la vista por todas partes, y no descubrió otra cosa que un carro que hacia ellos venía, con dos o tres banderas pequeñas, que le dieron a entender que el tal carro debía de traer moneda de Su Majestad, y así se lo dijo a don Quijote; pero él no le dio crédito, siempre creyendo y pensando que todo lo que le sucediese habían de ser aventuras y más aventuras, y así, respondió al hidalgo: He of the green gaban, on hearing this, looked in all directions, but could perceive nothing, except a cart coming towards them with two or three small flags, which led him to conclude it must be carrying treasure of the King's, and he said so to Don Quixote. — Hombre apercebido, medio combatido: no se pierde nada en que yo me aperciba, que sé por experiencia que tengo enemigos visibles e invisibles, y no sé cuándo, ni adónde, ni en qué tiempo, ni en qué figuras me han de acometer. He, however, would not believe him, being always persuaded and convinced that all that happened to him must be adventures and still more adventures; so he replied to the gentleman, "He who is prepared has his battle half fought; nothing is lost by my preparing myself, for I know by experience that I have enemies, visible and invisible, and I know not when, or where, or at what moment, or in what shapes they will attack me;" and turning to Sancho he called for his helmet; and Sancho, as he had no time to take out the curds, had to give it just as it was. Tomóla don Quijote, y, sin que echase de ver lo que dentro venía, con toda priesa se la encajó en la cabeza; y, como los requesones se apretaron y exprimieron, comenzó a correr el suero por todo el rostro y barbas de don Quijote, de lo que recibió tal susto, que dijo a Sancho: Don Quixote took it, and without perceiving what was in it thrust it down in hot haste upon his head; but as the curds were pressed and squeezed the whey began to run all over his face and beard, whereat he was so startled that he cried out to Sancho:
¡Sancho, qué es esto? "Sancho, what's this? Creo que se me está ablandando la cabeza, o que se me derriten los sesos, o que estoy sudando de pies a cabeza. I think my head is softening, or my brains are melting, or I am sweating from head to foot! Si sudo, no es ciertamente de miedo. If I am sweating it is not indeed from fear. Estoy convencido sin duda alguna de que la aventura que me va a suceder es una terrible. I am convinced beyond a doubt that the adventure which is about to befall me is a terrible one. Dame algo con que limpiarme, si lo tienes, porque este sudor copioso me ciega. Give me something to wipe myself with, if thou hast it, for this profuse sweat is blinding me."