The Adventures of the Noble Knight
Don Quixote de la Mancha
and his Faithful Squire
Sancho Panza

Based on the work of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

By Laurence D. Finston

Copyright (C) 2007, 2008 Laurence D. Finston

Copying is permitted provided this copyright notice is preserved.

(Part I, Book I, Chapter 4)

Ah! To succour need,
One has but to begin it,
For as the saying tells us,
There's a succour born each minute.

A farmer took his shepherd-boy,
And tied him to a tree,
He beat him with a leather strap,
The boy cried "Woe is me!"

A noble knight, he heard his cries,
And hastened to his aid,
"Prepare to die, Thou recreant knight,
Who on him hands hath laid!"

"O mercy, mighty warrior!
Most deeply I repent,
I'll pay him for the wrong I've done,
If you reprieve will grant."

A stranger he to falsehood,
On rode the valiant knight,
The farmer watched him thoughtfully,
'Til he was out of sight.

Again he seized the shepherd boy,
And bound him to the tree,
Once more took up his leather strap,
And beat him merc'lessly.

And onward rode the noble knight,
Upon his lips a song,
How great the satisfaction,
When right triumphs over wrong!