nd, now this way, now that, in search
of the visor. Not finding it he said, "Clearly the pagan to whose
measure this famous headpiece was first forged must have had a very
large head; but the worst of it is half of it is wanting."

When Sancho heard him call the basin a headpiece he was unable to
restrain his laughter, but remembering his master's wrath he checked
himself in the midst of it.

"What art thou laughing at, Sancho?" said Don Quixote.

"I am laughing," said he, "to think of the great head the pagan must
have had who owned this helmet, for it looks exactly like a regular
barber's basin."

"Dost thou know what I suspect, Sancho?" said Don Quixote; "that this
wonderful piece of this enchanted helmet must by some strange accident
have come into the hands of some one who was unable to recognize or
realize its value, and who, not knowing what he did, and seeing it to
be of the purest gold, must have melted down one half for the sake of
what it might be worth, and of the other made this which is like a
barber's basin, as thou sayest; but be it as it may, to me who recognize
it, its transformation makes no difference, for I will set it to rights
at the first village where there is a blacksmith, and in such style that
that helmet the god of smithies[446-4] forged for the god of battles
shall not surpass it or even come up to it; and in the meantime I will
wear it as well as I can, for something is better than nothing; all the
more as it will be quite enough to protect me from any chance blow of a
stone."

"Will your worship," said Sancho, "tell me what are we to do with this
dapple-gray steed that looks like a gray ass, which that Martino[446-5]
that your worship overthrew has left deserted here? for, from the way he
took to his heels and bolted, he is not likely ever to come back for it;
and by my beard but the gray is a good one."

"I have never been in the habit," said Don Quixote, "of taking spoil of
those whom I vanquish, nor is it the practice of chivalry to take away
their horses and leave them to go on foot, unless indeed it be that the
victor have lost his own in the combat, in which case it is lawful to
take that of the vanquished as a thing won in lawful war; therefore,
Sancho, leave this horse, or ass, or whatever thou wilt have it to be;
for when its owner sees us gone hence he will come back for it."

"God knows I should like to take it," returned Sancho, "or at least to
change it for my own, wh