about inns, measuring the length of strangers' swords, and
ruining their owners if they find them a hair's breadth longer than the
law allows.[60]

[60] When Cervantes wrote this, a decree had recently been issued
limiting the length of the sword.

_Berg._ My master hawked at higher game. He set himself up for a man of
valour, piqued himself on making famous captures, and sustained his
reputation for courage without risk to his person, but at the cost of
his purse. One day at the Puerta de Xeres he fell in, single-handed,
with six famous bravoes, whilst I could not render him any assistance,
having a muzzle on my mouth, which he made me wear by day and took off
at night. I was amazed at his intrepidity and headlong valour. He dashed
in and out between the six swords of the ruffians, and made as light of
them as if they were so many osier wands. It was wonderful to behold the
agility with which he assaulted, his thrusts and parries, and with what
judgment and quickness of eye he prevented his enemies from attacking
him from behind. In short, in my opinion and that of all the spectators
of the fight, he was a very Rhodomont, having fought his men all the way
from the Puerta de Xeres to the statues of the college of Maese Rodrigo,
a good hundred paces and more. Having put them to flight, he returned to
collect the trophies of the battle, consisting of three sheaths, and
these he carried to the corregidor, who was then, if I mistake not, the
licentiate Sarmiento de Valladares, renowned for the destruction of the
Sauceda.[61] As my master walked through the streets, people pointed to
him and said, "There goes the valiant man who ventured, singly, to
encounter the flower of the bravoes of Andalusia."

[61] An old promenade of the city.

He spent the remainder of the day in walking about the city, to let
himself be seen, and at night we went to the suburb of Triana, to a
street near the powder-mill, where my master, looking about to see if
any one observed him, entered a house, myself following him, and in the
court-yard we found the six rogues he had fought with, all untrussed,
and without cloaks or swords. One fellow, who appeared to be the
landlord, had a big jar of wine in one hand and a great tavern goblet in
the other, and, filling a sparkling bumper, he drank to all the company.
No sooner had they set eyes on my master than they all ran to him with
open arms. They all drank his health, and he returned the compliment