Page:The History of the Valorous and Wity Knight-Errant, Don-Quixote of the Mancha.djvu/47

Book I. And therefore he was wontwant [sic] to say, If I should for my Sins, or by good hap encounter there abroad with some Giant (as Knights-Errant do ordinarily) and that I should overthrow him with one Blow to the Ground, or cut him with a stroke in two halves, or finally overcome, and make him yield to me, would it not be very expedient to have some Lady, to whom I might present him ? And that he entring in her Presence to kneel before my sweet Lady, and (say unto her with an humble and submissive Voice: Madam! I am the Giant Caraculiambro Lord of the Island called Malindrania, whom the never-too-much-praised Knight Don Quixote de la Mancha hath overcome in single Combat, and hath commanded to present myself to your Greatness, that it may please your Highness to dispose of me according unto your liking. O ! how glad was our Knight when he had made this Discourse to himself, but chiefly when he had found out one, whom he might call his Lady! For, as 'tis imagined, there dwelt in the next Village unto his Manor, a young handsome Wench, with whom he was some time in Love, altho', as is understood, (he never knew or took Notice thereof. She was call'd Aldonza Lorenzo, and her he thought fittest to entitle with the Name of Lady of his Thoughts and searching a Name for her that should not vary much from her own, and yet should draw and aveeraver [sic] somewhat to that of a Princess or great Lady, he called her Dulcinea del Toboso (for there she was born) a Name in his Conceit harmonious, strange, and significant, like to all the others that he had given to his Things. Rh