Don Quixote

by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Don Quixote looked up and saw coming toward him on the same road he was traveling approximately twelve men on foot, strung together by their necks, like beads on a great iron chain, and all of them wearing manacles. Accompanying them were two men on horseback and two on foot; the ones on horseback had flintlocks, and those on foot carried javelins and swords; as soon as Sancho Panza saw them, he said: “This is a chain of galley slaves, people forced by the king to go to the galleys.” “What do you mean, forced?” asked Don Quixote. “Is it possible that the king forces anyone?” “I’m not saying that,” responded Sancho, “but these are people who, because of their crimes, have been condemned to serve the king in the galleys, by force.” “In short,” replied Don Quixote, “for whatever reason, these people are being taken by force and not of their own free will.” “That’s right,” said Sancho. “Well, in that case,” said his master, “here it is fitting to put into practice my profession: to right wrongs and come to the aid and assistance of the wretched.” “Your grace shouldn’t forget,” said Sancho, “that justice, which is the king himself, does not force or do wrong to such people, but sentences them as punishment for their crimes.”

Don Quixote's naïveté here practically equals that of Cosette upon encountering a similar chain gang in "Les Misérables": Cosette: 'Father, what on earth is in those carts?' Jean Valjean: ‘Convicts.’ Cosette: ‘Where are they going?’ Jean Valjean: ‘To the prison hulks.’