desired； if their desires had been ruled by reason； a more eligible
husband for their daughter than I was； and she； before taking the last
fatal step of giving her hand； might easily have said that I had
already given her mine； for I should have come forward to support
any assertion of hers to that effect。 In short； I came to the
conclusion that feeble love； little reflection； great ambition； and
a craving for rank； had made her forget the words with which she had
deceived me； encouraged and supported by my firm hopes and
honourable passion。
〃Thus soliloquising and agitated； I journeyed onward for the
remainder of the night； and by daybreak I reached one of the passes of
these mountains； among which I wandered for three days more without
taking any path or road； until I came to some meadows lying on I
know not which side of the mountains； and there I inquired of some
herdsmen in what direction the most rugged part of the range lay。 They
told me that it was in this quarter； and I at once directed my
course hither； intending to end my life here； but as I was making my
way among these crags； my mule dropped dead through fatigue and
hunger； or； as I think more likely； in order to have done with such
a worthless burden as it bore in me。 I was left on foot； worn out；
famishing； without anyone to help me or any thought of seeking help：
and so thus I lay stretched on the ground； how long I know not；
after which I rose up free from hunger； and found beside me some
goatherds； who no doubt were the persons who had relieved me in my
need； for they told me how they had found me； and how I had been
uttering ravings that showed plainly I had lost my reason； and since
then I am conscious that I am not always in full possession of it； but
at times so deranged and crazed that I do a thousand mad things；
tearing my clothes； crying aloud in these solitudes； cursing my
fate； and idly calling on the dear name of her who is my enemy； and
only seeking to end my life in lamentation； and when I recover my
senses I find myself so exhausted and weary that I can scarcely
move。 Most commonly my dwelling is the hollow of a cork tree large
enough to shelter this miserable body； the herdsmen and goatherds
who frequent these mountains； moved by compassion； furnish me with
food； leaving it by the wayside or on the rocks； where they think I
may perhaps pass and find it； and so； even though I may be then out of
my senses； the wants of nature teach me what is required to sustain
me； and make me crave it and eager to take it。 At other times； so they
tell me when they find me in a rational mood； I sally out upon the
road； and though they would gladly give it me； I snatch food by
force from the shepherds bringing it from the village to their huts。
Thus do pass the wretched life that remains to me； until it be
Heaven's will to bring it to a close； or so to order my memory that
I no longer recollect the beauty and treachery of Luscinda； or the
wrong done me by Don Fernando； for if it will do this without
depriving me of life； I will turn my thoughts into some better
channel； if not； I can only implore it to have full mercy on my
soul； for in myself I feel no power or strength to release my body
from this strait in which I have of my own accord chosen to place it。
〃Such； sirs； is the dismal story of my misfortune： say if it be
one that can be told with less emotion than you have seen in me； and
do not trouble yourselves with urging or pressing upon me what
reason suggests as likely to serve for my relief； for it will avail me
as much as the medicine prescribed by a wise physician avails the sick
man who will not take it。 I have no wish for health without
Luscinda； and since it is her pleasure to be another's； when she is or
should be mine； let it be mine to be a prey to misery when I might
have enjoyed happiness。 She by her fickleness strove to make my ruin
irretrievable； I will strive to gratify her wishes by seeking
destruction； and it will show generations to come that I alone was
deprived of that of which all others in misfortune have a
superabundance； for to them the impossibility of being consoled is
itself a consolation； while to me it is the cause of greater sorrows
and sufferings； for I think that even in death there will not be an
end of them。〃
Here Cardenio brought to a close his long discourse and story； as
full of misfortune as it was of love； but just as the curate was going
to address some words of comfort to him； he was stopped by a voice
that reached his ear； saying in melancholy tones what will be told
in the Fourth Part of this narrative； for at this point the sage and
sagacious historian； Cide Hamete Benengeli； brought the Third to a
conclusion。
CHAPTER XXVIII
WHICH TREATS OF THE STRANGE AND DELIGHTFUL ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL THE
CURATE AND THE BARBER IN THE SAME SIERRA
HAPPY and fortunate were the times when that most daring knight
Don Quixote of La Mancha was sent into the world； for by reason of his
having formed a resolution so honourable as that of seeking to
revive and restore to the world the long…lost and almost defunct order
of knight…errantry； we now enjoy in this age of ours； so poor in light
entertainment； not only the charm of his veracious history； but also
of the tales and episodes contained in it which are； in a measure；
no less pleasing； ingenious； and truthful； than the history itself；
which； resuming its thread； carded； spun； and wound； relates that just
as the curate was going to offer consolation to Cardenio； he was
interrupted by a voice that fell upon his ear saying in plaintive
tones：
〃O God！ is it possible I have found a place that may serve as a
secret grave for the weary load of this body that I support so
unwillingly？ If the solitude these mountains promise deceives me
not； it is so； ah！ woe is me！ how much more grateful to my mind will
be the society of these rocks and brakes that permit me to complain of
my misfortune to Heaven； than that of any human being； for there is
none on earth to look to for counsel in doubt； comfort in sorrow； or
relief in distress！〃
All this was heard distinctly by the curate and those with him；
and as it seemed to them to be uttered close by； as indeed it was；
they got up to look for the speaker； and before they had gone twenty
paces they discovered behind a rock； seated at the foot of an ash
tree； a youth in the dress of a peasant； whose face they were unable
at the moment to see as he was leaning forward； bathing his feet in
the brook that flowed past。 They approached so silently that he did
not perceive them； being fully occupied in bathing his feet； which
were so fair that they looked like two pieces of shining crystal
brought forth among the other stones of the brook。 The whiteness and
beauty of these feet struck them with surprise； for they did not
seem to have been made to crush clods or to follow the plough and
the oxen as their owner's dress suggested； and so； finding they had
not been noticed； the curate； who was in front； made a sign to the
other two to conceal themselves behind some fragments of rock that lay
there； which they did； observing closely what the youth was about。
He had on a loose double…skirted dark brown jacket bound tight to
his body with a white cloth； he wore besides breeches and gaiters of
brown cloth； and on his head a brown montera； and he had the gaiters
turned up as far as the middle of the leg； which verily seemed to be
of pure alabaster。
As soon as he had done bathing his beautiful feet； he wiped them
with a towel he took from under the montera； on taking off which he
raised his face； and those who were watching him had an opportunity of
seeing a beauty so exquisite that Cardenio said to the curate in a
whisper：
〃As this is not Luscinda； it is no human creature but a divine
being。〃
The youth then took off the montera； and shaking his head from
side to side there broke loose and spread out a mass of hair that
the beams of the sun might have envied； by this they knew that what
had seemed a peasant was a lovely woman； nay the most beautiful the
eyes of two of them had ever beheld； or even Cardenio's if they had
not seen and known Luscinda； for he afterwards declared that only
the beauty of Luscinda could compare with this。 The long auburn
tresses not only covered her shoulders； but such was their length
and abundance； concealed her all round beneath their masses； so that
except the feet nothing of her form was visible。 She now used her
hands as a comb； and if her feet had seemed like bits of crystal in
the water； her hands looked like pieces of driven snow among her
locks； all which increased not only the admiration of the three
beholders； but their anxiety to learn who she was。 With this object
they resolved to show themselves； and at the stir they made in getting
upon their feet the fair damsel raised her head； and parting her
hair from before her eyes with both hands； she looked to see who had
made the noise； and the instant she perceived them she started to
her feet； and without waiting to put on her shoes or gather up her
hair； hastily snatched up a bundle as though of clothes that she had
beside her； and； scared and alarmed； endeavoured to take flight； but
before she had gone six paces she fell to the ground； her delicate
feet being unable to bear the roughness of the stones； seeing which；
the three hastened towards her； and the curate addressing her first
said：
〃Stay； senora； whoever you may be； for those whom you see here
only desire to be of service to you； you have no need to attempt a
flight so heedless； for neither can your feet bear it； nor we allow
it。〃
Taken by surprise and bewildered； she made no reply to these
words。 They； however； came towards her； and the curate taking her hand
went on to say：
〃What your dress would hide； senora； is made known to us by your
hair； a clear proof that it can be no trifling cause that has
disguised your beauty in a garb so unworthy of it； and sent it into
solitudes like these where we have had the good fortune to find you；
if not to relieve your distress； at least to offer you comfort； for no
distress； so long as life lasts； can be so oppres