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Man of La Mancha

Don Quixote is talking. He believes, immerse in his madness, that he’s going to be ordained knight.

Now I must consider how sages of the future will describe this historic night.
(He recites, with airs of grandeur) Long after the sun had retired to his couch... darkening the gates and balconies of La Mancha, Don Quixote, with lofty expression and measured tread... held vigil in the courtyard of a mighty castle.
(He stops his speech, meditates, and then continues in a humble tone of voice) Ohh… Maker of empty boasts... On this of all nights to give way to vanity. No, Don Quixote… No! Take a deep breath of life and consider how it should be lived. Call nothing thine except thy soul. Love not what thou art, only what thou may become. Do not pursue pleasure or thou mayest have the misfortune to overtake it. Look always forward. In last year's nests there are no birds this year. Be just to all men, courteous to all women. Live in the vision of the one for whom great deeds are done... Dulcinea.
[…]

Aldonza, Don Quixote’s Dulcinea, stops his speech and replies to him:
Why do you do these things?
Don Quixote: What things?
Aldonza: These ridiculous... the things you do!
Don Quixote: I hope to add some measure of grace to the world.
Aldonza: The world's a dung heap and we are maggots that crawl on it!
DQ: My Lady knows better in her heart.
A: What's in my heart will get me halfway to hell. And you, Señor Don Quixote… you're going to take such a beating!
DQ: Whether I win or lose does not matter.
A: What does?
DQ: Only that I follow the quest.
A: *spits* That for your Quest!
(she turns, marches away, stops, turns back and asks, awkwardly) What does that mean... quest?
DQ: It is the mission of each true knight... His duty... Nay, his privilege!

(he sings sweet and passionately)
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go;
To right the unrightable wrong.

To love, pure and chaste, from afar,
To try, when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!

This is my Quest to follow that star,
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far,
To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march into hell
For a heavenly cause!

And I know, if I'll only be true
To this glorious Quest,
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this,
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, To reach the unreachable stars!

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