Which treats of matters that relate to this history, and no other. The duke and duchess resolved that Don Quixote's challenge against their vassal should not be ineffectual; and the young man being fled into Flanders, to avoid having Donna Rodriguez to his mother-in-law, they made choice of a Gascoin lackey, named Tosilos, to supply his place, and gave him instructions how to act his part. Two days after, the duke acquainted Don Quixote, that within four days his antagonist would meet him in the lists, armed at all points like a knight, to maintain that the damsel lied through the throat in saying that he had ever promised her marriage. Don Quixote was mightily pleased with this news, promising himself to do wonders on this occasion; and esteeming it an extraordinary happiness to have such an opportunity to shew, before such noble spectators, how great were his valour and his strength. Cheered and elevated with these hopes, he waited for the end of these four days, which his eager impatience made him think so many ages.

It happened one morning, as he was riding out to prepare and exercise against the time of battle, that Rozinante pitched his feet near the brink of a deep cave; insomuch that, if Don Quixote had not used the best of his skill, he must infallibly have tumbled into it. Having escaped that danger, he was tempted to look into the cave without alighting; and wheeling about, rode up to it. While he was satisfying his curiosity and seriously musing, he thought he heard a noise within; and thereupon listening, he could distinguish these words, which in a doleful tone arose out of the cavern: "Ho, above there! is there no good Christian that hears me; no charitable knight or gentleman, that will take pity of a sinner buried alive, a poor governor without a government?" Don Quixote fancied he heard Sancho's voice, which did not a little surprise him; and for his better satisfaction, raising his voice as much as he could, "Who is that below?" cried he; "who is that complains?" "Who should it be, to his sorrow," cried Sancho, "but the most wretched Sancho Panza, governor, for his sins and for his unlucky errantry, of the island of Barataria, formerly squire to the famous knight Don Quixote de la Mancha?" These words redoubled Don Quixote's surprise, and increased his amazement: "I conjure thee," said he, "as I am a Catholic Christian, to tell me who thou art? And, if thou art a soul in pain, let me know what thou wouldst have me to do for thee? For since my profession is to assist and succour all that are afflicted in this world, it shall also be so to relieve and help those who stand in need of it in the other, and who cannot help themselves." "Surely, sir," answered he from below, "you that speak to me should be my master Don Quixote. By the tone of your voice it can be no man else." "My name is Don Quixote," replied the knight, "and I think it my duty to assist not only the living but the dead in their necessities. Tell me then who thou art, for thou fillest me with astonishment?" "Why then," replied the voice, "I make oath that I am Sancho Panza your squire, and that I never was dead yet in my life. But only having left my government, for reasons and causes which I have not leisure yet to tell you, last night unluckily I fell into this cave, where I am still, and Dapple with me, that will not let me tell a lie; for, as a farther proof of what I say, he is here." Now what is strange, immediately, as if the ass had understood what his master said, to back his evidence, he fell a-braying so obstreperously, that he made the whole cave ring again. "A worthy witness," cried Don Quixote; "I know his bray, and I know thy voice too, my Sancho. I find thou art my real squire; stay, therefore, till I go to the castle, which is hard by, and fetch more company to help thee out of the pit into which thy sins doubtless have thrown thee." "Make haste, I beseech you, sir," quoth Sancho, "and come again as fast as you can; for I can no longer endure to be here buried alive."

Don Quixote went with all speed to the castle, and gave the duke and duchess an account of Sancho's accident, whilst they did not a little wonder at it; though they conceived he might easily enough fall in at the mouth of the cave, which had been there time out of mind. But they were mightily surprised to hear he had abdicated his government, before they had an account of his coming away.

In short, they sent ropes and other conveniences by their servants to draw him out; and at last, with much trouble and labour, both he and his Dapple were restored to the light of the sun. They then proceeded to the castle, where the duke and duchess waited for them in the gallery. As for Sancho, he would not go up to see the duke, till he had seen his ass in the stable, and provided for him; for he said the poor beast had but sorry entertainment in his last night's lodging. This done, away he went to wait on his lord and lady; and throwing himself on his knees, "My lord and lady," said he, "I went to govern your island of Barataria, such being your will and pleasure, though it was your goodness more than my desert. Naked I entered into it, and naked I came away. I neither won nor lost. Whether I governed well or ill, there are those not far off can tell; and let them tell, if they please, that can tell better than I. I have resolved doubtful cases, determined law-suits, and all the while ready to die for hunger; such was the pleasure of Doctor Pedro Rezio, of Tirteafuera, that physician in ordinary to island-governors. Enemies set upon us in the night; and after they had put us in great danger, the people of the island say they were delivered, and had the victory; and may Heaven prosper them as they speak truth! In short, in that time I experienced all the cares and burdens this trade of governing brings along with it, and I found them too heavy for my shoulders. I was never cut out for a ruler, and I am too clumsy to meddle with edge-tools; and so, before the government left me, I even resolved to leave the government; and accordingly, yesterday morning I quitted the island as I found it, with the same streets, the same houses, and the same roofs to them, as when I came to it. I have asked for nothing by way of loan, and have made no hoard against a rainy day. I designed, indeed, to have issued out several wholesome orders, but did not, for fear they should not be kept; in which case, it signifies no more to make them than if one made them not. So, as I said before, I came away from the island without any company but my Dapple. I fell into a cave, and went a good way through it, till this morning, by the light of the sun, I spied my way out; yet not so easy but, had not Heaven sent my master, Don Quixote, to help me, there I might have stayed till doomsday. And now, my lord duke and my lady duchess, here is your governor Sancho Panza again; who, by a ten days' government, has only picked up so much experience as to know he would not give a straw to be a governor, not only of an island, but of the whole world. This being allowed, kissing your honours' hands, and doing like the boys when they play at trusse or saille, who cry, 'Leap you, and then let me leap,' so I leap from the government to my old master's service again."

Thus Sancho concluded his speech; and Don Quixote, who all the while dreaded he would have said a thousand impertinencies, was glad in his heart, finding him end with so few. The duke embraced Sancho, and told him he was very sorry he had quitted his government so soon; but that he would give him some other employment that should be less troublesome, and more profitable. The duchess was no less kind, giving order he should want for nothing; for he seemed sadly bruised and out of order.