Sancho arose early so that he could attend to the cares of Don Quixote before the other townspeople had begun their morning chores. This day they intended to take leave of the generous hospitality that had been shown the knight errant and his squire and to avoid the many troubles that had been experienced in prior time when it became the responsibility of the knight to render to Caesar what was due Caesar. So Sancho with haste and in silence that would have been the envy of a snake in the grass, bridled and saddled Rozinante, attached the lead to Amadis' halter, and then assembled the knight's armour in place so that Quixote could quickly don the metal and its leather harness. Sancho knew that his master would proclaim to those about, how knight errants owed no gold or silver to those who had been kind in their hosting duties, so he intended to make sure that there was no audience to hear the farewell speech which he was sure the Don intended as compensation and the peoples just awards. Now with all arranged, Sancho took a moment to pass through the kitchen and gathering what was left from the past evenings offering, he quickly entered it into his knap sack and then went to awaken his master. Alas, Don Quixote was not there. Now in a panic that was not unlike his state when they had encountered the Giant's castle that swallowed the river and made such horrible anvil sounds as the river was beaten into submission, Sancho searched the darkened inn. He soon discovered that Don Quixote was no where to be found within the inn and in despair returned to the stable, knowing not what to do. Thinking that both Rozinante and Amadis would appreciate a feed of corn prior to their next adventure, Sancho crawled into the bin that held the village's store of grain. There nestled among a generous pile of straw, our knight errant slumbered. With relief that Don Quixote had been found and also now knowing that they could now leave in a moments notice, Sancho gathered a generous hat full of barley from the bin and returning to the waiting beast, gave them what was a most pleasant feed.. On reentering the grain store, he spoke thusly to Don Quixote: "Most noble knight, defender of all fair maidens and those who have been wronged, leader of our country against every adversity, protector of entire villages, valleys and districts, I beseech you to arise." This he repeated three times as was his custom and the way in which he had found to gently raise Don Quixote from his pleasant dreams. Dear Reader, I might add that Sancho had discovered using other tactics to awaken the knight often was accompanied by Don Quixote rising suddenly to his feet and proclaiming in loud and alarming voice the subject of his most recent dream. Often times in the past, Quixote would grasp a nearby implement of any design, thinking it his mace, sword or other battle armament and thrash about the room or wherever he might at that time be.
Now gently and slowly awakened, Don Quixote gave a mighty cough as the dust of the stable no doubt had filled his lungs with the chaff of the corn. Sancho was frightened that the Don would launch into a coughing frenzy or speak loudly, but he was soon to realize that Don Quixote had other necessary task to be done as he stepped to the off side of the stable and discharged a mighty stream. This accomplished, he seemed somewhat surprised that Sancho was in attendance, and asked; "Sancho, you dolt, have you been here all night, doing nothing. Don't you realize that we must depart in haste as I have in a most pleasant dream been advised that a great challenge awaits us this very day in a far village. Get about, saddle Rozinante, but first give him a good feed, and if any is left a feed for Amadis is also due. How can I consider you my squire, my most loyal servant, my friend, one who accompanies me on these great challenges, if you waste both your time and mine with idle, befuddled, slothfulness. Oh, the sufferings that a valorous knight must abide to serve his Lord and his Maker."
Being accustomed to such early morning speeches, Sancho gently led his master from the grain bin to the awaiting Rozinante. There he helped encase the knight into his armour and with little difficulty placed him astride the weary stallion. With a slap on the rump of Rozinante, Sancho started the procession on its way, he deciding to lead Amadis this early morn. In this fashion all departed the inn and were soon away from the village. But as this was a well populated district, they soon passed through yet another town which was not quite awake. However, at the very edge, standing directly in the path of Rozinante were two children. The youngest of which was in deep despair.
Don Quixote it is recorded, was one never to pass without asking why tears should be shed so early in the morn. Bringing Rozinante to a sudden halt resulted in Sancho bumping into Rozinante's bony hip caused the not quite awake steed to start and almost unseat our Don and trample the children to boot. Regaining his composure, Don Quixote asked; "Children why be you in center path of this road, and in great distress? Has wrong been done? If so I the most courageous and brave knight of Mancha shall take your case as my own and bring happiness and smiles to your faces. Who dare cause you such misery?"
The young girl answered in a voice so faint that neither Sancho or Don Quixote could understand a word spoken. Sancho recognizing that the children could easily be afraid of the mounted knight in his well polished armour, stepped around Rozinante and asked what caused them to cry.
The older child, a boy not more than five or six years at most was almost amused to see Sancho, he being so rotund not unlike a Saint or worker of the Church, but he quickly concealed his mirth and stated the problem that was his sisters. "Our cat climbed into that tall chestnut tree this past night and cannot get down. We fear that she will either starve, die from lack of water or in desperation try to climb down and fall, killing her dead! The entire night we have sat beneath the tree and now we are cold, damp, hungry and in great grief. Our cat, she will not come to us."
Don Quixote hearing this plea for help was moved to abandon his quest for adventure, or at least, set it aside until he had solved the children's dilemma. "Where is this tree and the recalcitrant cat?" And at once it was pointed out to him that it was in the near tree. He commanded; "Sancho, climb the tree and fetch the cat!" But no sooner having issued the order, he recognized that Sancho was of the two of them the least able to climb the tree and even if he stood on his asses back, he would be unable to reach the first limb. What to do was immediately pointed out by Sancho who suggested that Don Quixote if he stood on Rozinante's back would easily be able to reach the first limb and could then climb to where the cat was lodged, in a fork not too distant.
It must be pointed out that Don Quixote, only on few occasions removed his armour during the waking hours, as a knight must always be prepared for battle. And this was not a time when he thought it wise to do so since they had just left the near village, on perhaps less than favorable terms. With Sancho's suggestion accepted, he rode Rozinante to the shade of the tree and attempted to stand in the saddle. The thinness of the stallions withers, and the loose fit of the saddle about his scrawny back made a poor platform for our Don. "Come close with Amadis, mount on his back and with Rozinante against the tree trunk and Amadis against Rozinante, we shall have a base on which I can stand and climb into the tree." Now positioned as commanded, once again Don Quixote made effort to stand in his saddle. He found that by putting his left leg on Sancho's shoulder, then on Sancho's head, he was able to gain some leverage from which he was able to climb to the first branch. Sancho's face was much abused by the armour of Don Quixote as it passed from his shoulder to his bare and I might add, bald head. Rozinante and Amadis seemed to not mind this circus event which was taking place above them and the children applauded the sight of our mighty knight now perched on the first limb in his full armour. His visor having descended in the struggle, Don Quixote was blind to the danger of losing his balance and falling. Moreover, he was, as a aged man at that, quite out of breath, and so he rested.
Now at about this time, actually a bit before: we return to the village inn from which Don Quixote and Sancho had so recently departed. The inn keeper discovering that his guest had crept away in silence without a proper farewell or payment for services of the fortnight, was much enraged. He called for help from the others of the village who likewise found that they had not been compensated for the corn or hay; or for that matter the quantities of wine that Sancho had consumed. In little time, a party was assembled who had one purpose in mind, to find the errant knight and his squire and extract from them a suitable payment. As it was early, there was little problem in determining which way our two soldiers of fortune had gone as their path was clearly marked in the heavy dew covering the grass along the roadside. Don Quixote would have been sure to have counted the pack to number at least fifty or more, although in truth probably eight to ten is more in keeping. Not the less they were angry, and had armed themselves with pitchforks, clubs, hoes, mops and what ever was easily gathered as they with haste joined the chase. It is recorded that they made much better time than did Don Quixote and Sancho, and soon entered the near village and seeing that their prey were not in sight, continued down the road making much noise as they banged along.
Sancho was the first to hear the coming mob and knew that what had happened in a previous inn in which he was the subject of a blanket party was about to be repeated. Not if he could help it. He gathered Rozinante's reins, Amadis halter lead and with haste entered the near wood. He in fact continued so deep into the wood that he soon became very much lost and unsure of his way. However, he no longer heard the sounds of the inn keeper and his friends so he sat to rest, bemoaning surely what dark happenings would affect his master.
The children hearing the rush of the mob and fearing that they would be punished for being away from their fireside simply disappeared into a nearby garden. This left our knight-apparent alone. However, lacking his horse, his lance, even his sword and other armaments, for once in his brief career, he remained silent. Most probably at a loss for words and also remembering that a knight was to seek out other knights to right wrongs and should not enter into aggressive acts against common folk. So there he sat in his tree. Remember thought that the purpose of his being in this particular chestnut tree was a cat that had chosen to climb this very same tree and was in the branch just over his head, he chose to look up. Now cats being social animals when they choose to be so, descended to Don Quixote's branch and as cats are wont to do, show much affection to this strange metal encrusted creature, purring and offering herself to be stroked, which of course Don Quixote did.
Innkeeper, tavern owner, stableman and the other four or five that accompanied them passed directly beneath the tree and continued on their way and out of our story. Which brings us back to the two children who still wanted the return of their cat. They returned to their home and explained to the mistress of the house that a knight in shining armour was in the chestnut tree on the edge of the wood and he was there to rescue their cat.
Mothers and other maidens are a strange lot and mostly disbelieve the tales that are spun by small children but these two were so convincing in their story and did not waver from it until it was near when the sun was directly overhead which signaled the time for lunch. As the boy and girl would not be dissuaded from the tale, it was finally agreed that the women would accompany them to the tree. Upon sight of Don Quixote sitting on a large branch, legs crossed, back braced against the tree's main trunk, kitten in lap, and in his full armour I might add, the ladies were to say the least, startled. They invited him to come down but as there was no means for him to do so, he refused but suggested that perhaps if they fetched a ladder he would descend.
While one went to find a ladder, another returned to the kitchen where the mid day meal was nearing a state of readiness. In the spirit of things, another entered the wine cellar and chose several bottles of good wine that was at least six months old. While another gathered up bed coverings to be spread on the ground. Of course the children remained with Don Quixote and their kitten, or at least at the base of the tree wherein dwelt our knight and gato.
Now all was in readiness, the ladder positioned, the bed coverings spread upon the ground, food placed in appropriate dishes and wine poured into goblets that had been fetched for the occasion. With great majesty and pomp and circumstance, Don Quixote, the man from la Mancha emerged from the leafy coverings, climbed slowly down the ladder and upon reaching the ground, presented the errant kitten to her mistress. Now the maidens formed a circle, grasping Don Quixote's left and right hands and danced with great merriment. In time, exhausted, they sat upon the ground for their banquet. But wait, the knight in full armour was seen to be in much distress because of the heat of the day, the dancing and other exertions so was bade to remove his armour to be more comfortable. Although he protested, it was in short order that the maidens removed his metal shell and of course discovered that underneath, a knight wears little or nothing at all. Using one of the maiden's aprons, he was covered (at least partially), and with modesty sat with his back to the chestnut tree that had just a short time before been his prison.
With good food, ample wine, warmth of the summer sun, and pleasant company the group quite forgot about the children and their kitten. Don Quixote entertained the gentle-folk with reading from a book that one had brought from the house. A translation of John Gower's. Speculum Meditantis, it told a tale of the seven deadly sins; pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth. To help in their understanding of the poem, Quixote had the maidens act out the parts of each of the sins, as well as virtue, vice, riches, poverty, knowledge and ignorance for good measure.
The children thought little of the goings-on of the adults and so left them to their pleasures. Now we must return to Sancho who while lost in the deep woods was much concerned for his master. He resolved to neither eat nor drink nor stop his seeking a exit from the forest until either he was successful in finding Don Quixote or would die in the process. Thus he wandered for more hours than can be counted on one hand and as luck would have it, exited the woods in the same place from which he had entered and before him was a roman feast that was shocking to such a good Christian as Sancho Panza. There in the midst of several bed coverings, lay his master, Don Quixote, and several comely maidens. Their hair and clothing in much disarray.
As Sancho neared the rites, Don Quixote spied him and in his most accusative voice said; "Sancho where hast thou been. For near half the day I have been waiting for you. Come near, you can add to our understanding of the play. No one better represents slothfulness than thou." After unmercifully addressing Sancho's unwillingness to work, Don Quixote finally tired of the exercise and finally said, "Bring Rozinante, secure his saddle and help me don my raiments and armour for we must be off and travel a great distance before the sun doth set." The maidens, much amused by the past and present goings-on, quickly gathered about them the makings of the noon day repast and each giving our good knight-errant a friendly caress , departed.
Sancho doing as his master had commanded soon had the Don, Rozinante and Amadis on the way down the path to the next adventure, never mind his stomach growling as he enjoyed not the noon-day fare that did so Don Quixote. So endeth the record of S. J. Mathrow.
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