Page:The History of the Valorous and Wity Knight-Errant, Don-Quixote of the Mancha.djvu/108

64 it, rather than thro any Defect in the Subject. Finally, the Second Part thereof (according to the Translation) began in this manner:

The trenchant Swords of the two valorous enraged Combatants being lifted aloft, it seem'd that they threatned Heaven, the Earth, and the Depths, such was their Hardiness and Courage; and the first that discharg'd his Blow was the Biscaine, which fell with such Force and Fury, as, if the Sword had not turn'd a little in the way, that only Blow had been sufficient to set an end to the rigorous Contention, and all other the Adventures of our Knight: But his good Fortune, which reserv'd him for greater Affairs, did wrest his Adversary's Sword awry in such sort, as tho' he stroke him on the left Shoulder, yet did it no more Harm than disarm all that side, carrying away with it a great part of his Beaver, with the half of his Ear, all which fell to the Ground with a Dreadful Ruin, leaving him in very ill case for a good time. Good God! who is he that can well describe at this present the Fury that enter'd into the Heart of our Manchegan, seeing himself used in that manner? Let us say no more, but that it was such, that stretching himself again in the Stirrups, and griping his Sword fast in both his Hands, he discharg'd men a terrible Blow on the Biscaine, hitting him right upon the Cushion, and by it on the Head, that the Strength and Thickness thereof so little avail'd him, that as if a whole Mountain had fallen upon him, the Blood gush'd out of his Mouth, Nose, and Ears, all at once and he totter'd so on his Mule, that every Step he took he was ready to fall off, as he would indeed if he had not taken him by the Neck; yet nevertheless he lost the Stirrups, and loosing his gripe of the Mule, it being likewise frighted by that terrible Blow, ran away as fast as it could about the Fields, and within two or three winces overthrew him to the Ground.

All which Don Quixote stood beholding; with great quietness, and as soon as he saw him fall, he leap'd off his Horse, and ran over to him very speedily, and setting the Point of his Sword on his eyes he bade him

yield