Which deals with the adventure that gave don Quixote the most sorrow of any that had happened to him.
DON ANTONIO’S wife–so the history states—was very happy to welcome Ana Félix into her home. She received her very graciously, and was taken as much by her beauty as by her intelligence, because the Moorish girl was equally endowed with both, and all the people in the city were drawn to her as they would be to a tolling bell.
Don Quixote said to don Antonio that their plan to regain don Gregorio’s freedom was not a good one because it was more dangerous than achievable; it would be better to put him on the Barbary Coast in his armor and on horseback, and he would rescue him in spite of all the Moors, as don Gaiferos had done with his wife Melisendra.
“Consider, your grace,” said Sancho when he heard this, “that señor don Gaiferos rescued his wife on land and took her back to France on land. But in this case, if we rescue don Gregorio, we’ll have no way of getting him back to Spain since there’s a sea in the middle.”
“«There’s a remedy for everything except death»,” responded don Quixote, “because as soon as a boat comes to the shore, we’ll hop on, even though the whole world tries to stop us.”
“Your grace describes it well and makes it look easy,” said Sancho, “but «it’s a long way between thought and deed» and I’ll put my bet on the renegade since he seems to be a good fellow with a stout heart.”
Don Antonio said that if the renegade didn’t succeed, they would send the great don Quixote over to the Barbary Coast. Two days later, the renegade left on a fleet boat with six ranks of oars, manned by a powerful crew, and two days after that, galleys left to sail east. The general asked the viceroy to keep him informed about the freedom of don Gregorio and the outcome of Ana Félix’s situation. The viceroy agreed to it, just as he was asked.
One morning when don Quixote went out for a ride along the beach, in full armor (because, as he’d said many times, «his armor was his only adornment and fighting his only rest», and he was never seen without his armor for a moment) he saw coming toward him a knight wearing white armor, and on his shield was painted a shining moon. This man, as soon as he was within earshot, directing his words to don Quixote, said: “Renowned and never-sufficiently-praised don Quixote de La Mancha, I’m the Knight of the White Moon, whose unheard-of deeds have perhaps come to your attention. I come to do battle with you and test the strength of your arms, so as to make you believe and confess that my lady—whoever she might be—is incomparably more beautiful than your Dulcinea del Toboso, and if you confess this truth right now you’ll avoid your death and will spare me the labor of giving it to you. But if you fight, and I conquer you, I want no other satisfaction than for you to lay down your arms and stop seeking adventures, and for you to retire to your village for the duration of one year, without putting a sword in your hand, in untroubled peace and profitable tranquillity, because that’s what you need to increase your income and save your soul. And if you vanquish me, my life will be at your discretion, my arms and horse will be your spoils, and the fame of my deeds will go to you. Judge what is best, and answer me right now, because I must finish this affair today.”
Don Quixote was dumbfounded and awestruck, as much by the arrogance of the Knight of the White Moon as by the reason for this challenge. With calm restraint he responded: “Knight of the White Moon, news of whose deeds have not reached me until now, I’ll dare to swear you’ve never seen the illustrious Dulcinea, for if you had seen her, I know you wouldn’t have begun this crusade, because if you saw her, you would be convinced that there has never been, nor can there be, a beauty to compare with hers. So, not saying that you’re lying, but rather you’re misinformed in what you’ve said—with the conditions that you’ve stated, I accept your challenge, and immediately, so the day you’ve reserved for this business will not pass by. I’ll only exclude the provisions that the fame of your deeds would become mine, because I don’t know what they are and what they consist of. I’m happy with my own, such as they are. Take the side of the field you want and I’ll do the same, and «whom God shall prosper, let Saint Peter bless».”
People had seen the Knight of the White Moon in the city and had told the viceroy that the knight was talking with don Quixote de La Mancha. The viceroy, thinking that it must be a new adventure made up by don Antonio Moreno or by some other man in the city, went immediately to the beach with don Antonio and with many other men who were accompanying him, just when don Quixote was turning Rocinante about to measure the field. When he saw they were planning to face each other to attack, he went between them and asked what had moved them to such a sudden combat.
The Knight of the White Moon responded that it had to do with beauty, and in a few words he told him what he’d told don Quixote, along with the agreement of the conditions of the challenge by both parties. The viceroy asked don Antonio sotto voce if he knew who the Knight of the White Moon was, or if it was some prank they wanted to play on don Quixote. Don Antonio responded that he had no idea who the fellow was, nor if the challenge was in jest or real. This answer left the viceroy perplexed as to whether or not to allow the battle to proceed.
But since he could only persuade himself that it had to be a joke, he drew back, saying: “ Señores knights, if there’s no other recourse except to confess or die, and señor don Quixote stubbornly persists in this, and your grace, Knight of the White Moon, equally does—it’s all in God’s hands, so fall to it.”
He of the White Moon thanked the viceroy with courteous and thoughtful words for the permission that was given them, and don Quixote did the same. The latter then commended himself to heaven with all his heart and to his Dulcinea, as was his custom, wheeled around and took more room in the field, because he saw that his opponent was doing the same. And without the sound of a trumpet or of any other martial instrument to give the signal to begin their attack, both of them turned their horses around at the same moment. Since the horse of the Knight of the White Moon was swifter than don Quixote’s, he traveled two thirds of the course and there crashed into don Quixote with such a great force, without hitting him with his lance—which he raised, seemingly on purpose—that both don Quixote and Rocinante tumbled to the ground in a perilous fall.
He went at once to stand above his opponent, and placing his lance over his visor, said to him: “You’re vanquished, knight, and even dead, if you don’t confess the conditions of our dispute.”
Don Quixote, thoroughly thrashed and dazed, without raising his visor, as if he were speaking from within a tomb, with a debilitated and ailing voice said: “Dulcinea del Toboso is the most beautiful woman in the world, and I the most unfortunate knight on earth, and it’s not right that my weakness should forfeit this truth. Plunge your lance home, knight, and take my life since you’ve taken my honor.”
“I’ll certainly not do that,” said he of the White Moon. “Long live, long live in its flawlessness the beauty of señora Dulcinea del Toboso. I’ll be satisfied if the great don Quixote de La Mancha retires to his village for one year, or for the length of time that I may dictate, as we agreed before entering into this battle.”
The viceroy and don Antonio heard all of this, along with the others who were present, and they also heard don Quixote respond that since he was asking something that did not prejudice Dulcinea, he would comply with all the rest as a conscientious and truthful knight.
Once this promise was made, he of the White Moon turned his reins and, bowing his head toward the viceroy, at a half gallop, went into town. The viceroy had don Antonio follow him to find out at any cost who he was. They lifted don Quixote and uncovered his face and found him pale and sweating. Rocinante couldn’t move since he was so beaten up.
Sancho, very sad and troubled, didn’t know what to say or do. It seemed to him that the whole thing had been a dream, and that was something that happened by enchantment. He saw his master conquered and forced not to take up arms for a year. He imagined the light of his glorious deeds dimmed, his hopes and new promises evaporated, like smoke in the wind. He wondered in fear if Rocinante would be permanently injured, or if his master would be dislocated, although it wouldn’t be bad if his craziness were knocked out of him.
Finally, the viceroy had him taken in to the city on a litter, and returned to town eager to find out who the Knight of the White Moon, who had left don Quixote in such a sorry state, was.