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 III, Chapter 3)

Don Quixote from the castle,
And its lord his leave would take,
But this false, deceiving fellow,
Said, "There must be some mistake."

"Not in castle nor in fortress,
Did you here your journey stay,
'Tis an inn and I must beg you,
Ere you go your bill to pay!"

Don Quixote wroth was waxing,
Righteous anger clouds his brow,
"Ungrateful, knavish rogue and traitor,
Knights pay no bills, as you well know!"

Sharply spurring Rosinante,
He exited that den of sin,
But, Alas! he'd left his faithful,
Squire Sancho still within.

"Sir," began the scurvy ruffian,
Your indulgence I would pray,
For your master, who's escaped me,
You, the servant, now must pay."

"Never!" quoth Bold Sancho stoutly,
"Vain thy pleading, odious pander,
For whate'er sauce for the goose is,
'Tis even so sauce for the gander."

Devil take him! The innkeeper,
Gave a signal soft and low,
And a band of hardened villains,
Fair Sancho to the earth did throw.

Roughly siezed the rascals Sancho,
His mighty blows to no avail,
And a blanket then outspreading ---
How earn'ed Sancho such travail?

In the blanket,
How the tossed him!
O, those rogues are much to blame!
Dizziness fair overcame him,
But far worse he felt the shame.

Evil riff-raff, coarse and wicked,
Knew not Don Quixote's might;
Sancho's cries of desperation,
Told him of his squire's plight.

Back he rode, the doughty warrior,
Rosinante tore the ground,
But the castle's gates were clos'ed,
And our knight no entrance found.

Fruitless were his threats and curses,
Sancho's need could not allay,
Till at last their arms grew tired,
And they let him ride away.

Sancho's face with blushes burning,
When he once again was free;
But in Hell burn hotter fires,
For them that scorn knight-errantry!