do I deserve reproach for being beautiful； for beauty in a modest
woman is like fire at a distance or a sharp sword； the one does not
burn； the other does not cut； those who do not come too near。 Honour
and virtue are the ornaments of the mind； without which the body；
though it be so； has no right to pass for beautiful； but if modesty is
one of the virtues that specially lend a grace and charm to mind and
body； why should she who is loved for her beauty part with it to
gratify one who for his pleasure alone strives with all his might
and energy to rob her of it？ I was born free； and that I might live in
freedom I chose the solitude of the fields； in the trees of the
mountains I find society； the clear waters of the brooks are my
mirrors； and to the trees and waters I make known my thoughts and
charms。 I am a fire afar off； a sword laid aside。 Those whom I have
inspired with love by letting them see me； I have by words undeceived；
and if their longings live on hope… and I have given none to
Chrysostom or to any other… it cannot justly be said that the death of
any is my doing； for it was rather his own obstinacy than my cruelty
that killed him； and if it be made a charge against me that his wishes
were honourable； and that therefore I was bound to yield to them； I
answer that when on this very spot where now his grave is made he
declared to me his purity of purpose； I told him that mine was to live
in perpetual solitude； and that the earth alone should enjoy the
fruits of my retirement and the spoils of my beauty； and if； after
this open avowal； he chose to persist against hope and steer against
the wind； what wonder is it that he should sink in the depths of his
infatuation？ If I had encouraged him； I should be false； if I had
gratified him； I should have acted against my own better resolution
and purpose。 He was persistent in spite of warning； he despaired
without being hated。 Bethink you now if it be reasonable that his
suffering should be laid to my charge。 Let him who has been deceived
complain； let him give way to despair whose encouraged hopes have
proved vain； let him flatter himself whom I shall entice； let him
boast whom I shall receive； but let not him call me cruel or
homicide to whom I make no promise； upon whom I practise no deception；
whom I neither entice nor receive。 It has not been so far the will
of Heaven that I should love by fate； and to expect me to love by
choice is idle。 Let this general declaration serve for each of my
suitors on his own account； and let it be understood from this time
forth that if anyone dies for me it is not of jealousy or misery he
dies； for she who loves no one can give no cause for jealousy to
any； and candour is not to be confounded with scorn。 Let him who calls
me wild beast and basilisk； leave me alone as something noxious and
evil； let him who calls me ungrateful； withhold his service； who calls
me wayward； seek not my acquaintance； who calls me cruel； pursue me
not； for this wild beast； this basilisk； this ungrateful； cruel；
wayward being has no kind of desire to seek； serve； know； or follow
them。 If Chrysostom's impatience and violent passion killed him； why
should my modest behaviour and circumspection be blamed？ If I preserve
my purity in the society of the trees； why should he who would have me
preserve it among men； seek to rob me of it？ I have； as you know；
wealth of my own； and I covet not that of others； my taste is for
freedom； and I have no relish for constraint； I neither love nor
hate anyone； I do not deceive this one or court that； or trifle with
one or play with another。 The modest converse of the shepherd girls of
these hamlets and the care of my goats are my recreations； my
desires are bounded by these mountains； and if they ever wander
hence it is to contemplate the beauty of the heavens； steps by which
the soul travels to its primeval abode。〃
With these words； and not waiting to hear a reply； she turned and
passed into the thickest part of a wood that was hard by； leaving
all who were there lost in admiration as much of her good sense as
of her beauty。 Some… those wounded by the irresistible shafts launched
by her bright eyes… made as though they would follow her； heedless
of the frank declaration they had heard； seeing which； and deeming
this a fitting occasion for the exercise of his chivalry in aid of
distressed damsels； Don Quixote； laying his hand on the hilt of his
sword； exclaimed in a loud and distinct voice：
〃Let no one； whatever his rank or condition； dare to follow the
beautiful Marcela； under pain of incurring my fierce indignation。
She has shown by clear and satisfactory arguments that little or no
fault is to be found with her for the death of Chrysostom； and also
how far she is from yielding to the wishes of any of her lovers； for
which reason； instead of being followed and persecuted； she should
in justice be honoured and esteemed by all the good people of the
world； for she shows that she is the only woman in it that holds to
such a virtuous resolution。〃
Whether it was because of the threats of Don Quixote； or because
Ambrosio told them to fulfil their duty to their good friend； none
of the shepherds moved or stirred from the spot until； having finished
the grave and burned Chrysostom's papers； they laid his body in it；
not without many tears from those who stood by。 They closed the
grave with a heavy stone until a slab was ready which Ambrosio said he
meant to have prepared； with an epitaph which was to be to this
effect：
Beneath the stone before your eyes
The body of a lover lies；
In life he was a shepherd swain；
In death a victim to disdain。
Ungrateful； cruel； coy； and fair；
Was she that drove him to despair；
And Love hath made her his ally
For spreading wide his tyranny。
They then strewed upon the grave a profusion of flowers and
branches； and all expressing their condolence with his friend
ambrosio； took their Vivaldo and his companion did the same； and Don
Quixote bade farewell to his hosts and to the travellers； who
pressed him to come with them to Seville； as being such a convenient
place for finding adventures； for they presented themselves in every
street and round every corner oftener than anywhere else。 Don
Quixote thanked them for their advice and for the disposition they
showed to do him a favour； and said that for the present he would not；
and must not go to Seville until he had cleared all these mountains of
highwaymen and robbers； of whom report said they were full。 Seeing his
good intention； the travellers were unwilling to press him further；
and once more bidding him farewell； they left him and pursued their
journey； in the course of which they did not fail to discuss the story
of Marcela and Chrysostom as well as the madness of Don Quixote。 He；
on his part； resolved to go in quest of the shepherdess Marcela； and
make offer to her of all the service he could render her； but things
did not fall out with him as he expected； according to what is related
in the course of this veracious history； of which the Second Part ends
here。
CHAPTER XV
IN WHICH IS RELATED THE UNFORTUNATE ADVENTURE THAT DON QUIXOTE
FELL IN WITH WHEN HE FELL OUT WITH CERTAIN HEARTLESS YANGUESANS
THE sage Cide Hamete Benengeli relates that as soon as Don Quixote
took leave of his hosts and all who had been present at the burial
of Chrysostom； he and his squire passed into the same wood which
they had seen the shepherdess Marcela enter； and after having wandered
for more than two hours in all directions in search of her without
finding her； they came to a halt in a glade covered with tender grass；
beside which ran a pleasant cool stream that invited and compelled
them to pass there the hours of the noontide heat； which by this
time was beginning to come on oppressively。 Don Quixote and Sancho
dismounted； and turning Rocinante and the ass loose to feed on the
grass that was there in abundance； they ransacked the alforjas； and
without any ceremony very peacefully and sociably master and man
made their repast on what they found in them。 Sancho had not thought
it worth while to hobble Rocinante； feeling sure； from what he knew of
his staidness and freedom from incontinence； that all the mares in the
Cordova pastures would not lead him into an impropriety。 Chance；
however； and the devil； who is not always asleep； so ordained it
that feeding in this valley there was a drove of Galician ponies
belonging to certain Yanguesan carriers； whose way it is to take their
midday rest with their teams in places and spots where grass and water
abound； and that where Don Quixote chanced to be suited the
Yanguesans' purpose very well。 It so happened； then； that Rocinante
took a fancy to disport himself with their ladyships the ponies； and
abandoning his usual gait and demeanour as he scented them； he；
without asking leave of his master； got up a briskish little trot
and hastened to make known his wishes to them； they； however； it
seemed； preferred their pasture to him； and received him with their
heels and teeth to such effect that they soon broke his girths and
left him naked without a saddle to cover him； but what must have
been worse to him was that the carriers； seeing the violence he was
offering to their mares； came running up armed with stakes； and so
belaboured him that they brought him sorely battered to the ground。
By this time Don Quixote and Sancho； who had witnessed the
drubbing of Rocinante； came up panting； and said Don Quixote to
Sancho：
〃So far as I can see； friend Sancho； these are not knights but
base folk of low birth： I mention it because thou canst lawfully aid
me in taking due vengeance for the insult offered to Rocinante
before our eyes。〃
〃What the devil vengeance can we take；〃 answered Sancho； 〃if they
are more than twenty； and we no more than two； or； indeed； perhaps not
more than one and a half？〃
〃I count for a hundred；〃 replied Don Quixote； and without more words
he drew his sword and attacked the Yanguesans and excited and impelled
by the example of his master； Sancho did the same； and to begin
with； Don Quixo