if not to relieve your distress； at least to offer you comfort； for no
distress； so long as life lasts； can be so oppressive or reach such
a height as to make the sufferer refuse to listen to comfort offered
with good intention。 And so； senora； or senor； or whatever you
prefer to be； dismiss the fears that our appearance has caused you and
make us acquainted with your good or evil fortunes； for from all of us
together； or from each one of us； you will receive sympathy in your
trouble。〃
While the curate was speaking； the disguised damsel stood as if
spell…bound； looking at them without opening her lips or uttering a
word； just like a village rustic to whom something strange that he has
never seen before has been suddenly shown； but on the curate
addressing some further words to the same effect to her； sighing
deeply she broke silence and said：
〃Since the solitude of these mountains has been unable to conceal
me； and the escape of my dishevelled tresses will not allow my
tongue to deal in falsehoods； it would be idle for me now to make
any further pretence of what； if you were to believe me； you would
believe more out of courtesy than for any other reason。 This being so；
I say I thank you； sirs； for the offer you have made me； which
places me under the obligation of complying with the request you
have made of me； though I fear the account I shall give you of my
misfortunes will excite in you as much concern as compassion； for
you will be unable to suggest anything to remedy them or any
consolation to alleviate them。 However； that my honour may not be left
a matter of doubt in your minds； now that you have discovered me to be
a woman； and see that I am young； alone； and in this dress； things
that taken together or separately would be enough to destroy any
good name； I feel bound to tell what I would willingly keep secret
if I could。〃
All this she who was now seen to be a lovely woman delivered without
any hesitation； with so much ease and in so sweet a voice that they
were not less charmed by her intelligence than by her beauty； and as
they again repeated their offers and entreaties to her to fulfil her
promise； she without further pressing； first modestly covering her
feet and gathering up her hair； seated herself on a stone with the
three placed around her； and； after an effort to restrain some tears
that came to her eyes； in a clear and steady voice began her story
thus：
〃In this Andalusia there is a town from which a duke takes a title
which makes him one of those that are called Grandees of Spain。 This
nobleman has two sons； the elder heir to his dignity and apparently to
his good qualities； the younger heir to I know not what； unless it
be the treachery of Vellido and the falsehood of Ganelon。 My parents
are this lord's vassals； lowly in origin； but so wealthy that if birth
had conferred as much on them as fortune； they would have had
nothing left to desire； nor should I have had reason to fear trouble
like that in which I find myself now； for it may be that my ill
fortune came of theirs in not having been nobly born。 It is true
they are not so low that they have any reason to be ashamed of their
condition； but neither are they so high as to remove from my mind
the impression that my mishap comes of their humble birth。 They are；
in short； peasants； plain homely people； without any taint of
disreputable blood； and； as the saying is； old rusty Christians； but
so rich that by their wealth and free…handed way of life they are
coming by degrees to be considered gentlefolk by birth； and even by
position； though the wealth and nobility they thought most of was
having me for their daughter； and as they have no other child to
make their heir； and are affectionate parents； I was one of the most
indulged daughters that ever parents indulged。
〃I was the mirror in which they beheld themselves； the staff of
their old age； and the object in which； with submission to Heaven； all
their wishes centred； and mine were in accordance with theirs； for I
knew their worth； and as I was mistress of their hearts； so was I also
of their possessions。 Through me they engaged or dismissed their
servants； through my hands passed the accounts and returns of what was
sown and reaped； the oil…mills； the wine…presses； the count of the
flocks and herds； the beehives； all in short that a rich farmer like
my father has or can have； I had under my care； and I acted as steward
and mistress with an assiduity on my part and satisfaction on theirs
that I cannot well describe to you。 The leisure hours left to me after
I had given the requisite orders to the head…shepherds； overseers； and
other labourers； I passed in such employments as are not only
allowable but necessary for young girls； those that the needle；
embroidery cushion； and spinning wheel usually afford； and if to
refresh my mind I quitted them for a while； I found recreation in
reading some devotional book or playing the harp； for experience
taught me that music soothes the troubled mind and relieves
weariness of spirit。 Such was the life I led in my parents' house
and if I have depicted it thus minutely； it is not out of ostentation；
or to let you know that I am rich； but that you may see how； without
any fault of mine； I have fallen from the happy condition I have
described； to the misery I am in at present。 The truth is； that
while I was leading this busy life； in a retirement that might compare
with that of a monastery； and unseen as I thought by any except the
servants of the house （for when I went to Mass it was so early in
the morning； and I was so closely attended by my mother and the
women of the household； and so thickly veiled and so shy； that my eyes
scarcely saw more ground than I trod on）； in spite of all this； the
eyes of love； or idleness； more properly speaking； that the lynx's
cannot rival； discovered me； with the help of the assiduity of Don
Fernando； for that is the name of the younger son of the duke I told
of。〃
The moment the speaker mentioned the name of Don Fernando；
Cardenio changed colour and broke into a sweat； with such signs of
emotion that the curate and the barber； who observed it； feared that
one of the mad fits which they heard attacked him sometimes was coming
upon him； but Cardenio showed no further agitation and remained quiet；
regarding the peasant girl with fixed attention； for he began to
suspect who she was。 She； however； without noticing the excitement
of Cardenio； continuing her story； went on to say：
〃And they had hardly discovered me； when； as he owned afterwards； he
was smitten with a violent love for me； as the manner in which it
displayed itself plainly showed。 But to shorten the long recital of my
woes； I will pass over in silence all the artifices employed by Don
Fernando for declaring his passion for me。 He bribed all the
household； he gave and offered gifts and presents to my parents； every
day was like a holiday or a merry…making in our street； by night no
one could sleep for the music； the love letters that used to come to
my hand； no one knew how； were innumerable； full of tender pleadings
and pledges； containing more promises and oaths than there were
letters in them； all which not only did not soften me； but hardened my
heart against him； as if he had been my mortal enemy； and as if
everything he did to make me yield were done with the opposite
intention。 Not that the high…bred bearing of Don Fernando was
disagreeable to me； or that I found his importunities wearisome； for
it gave me a certain sort of satisfaction to find myself so sought and
prized by a gentleman of such distinction； and I was not displeased at
seeing my praises in his letters （for however ugly we women may be； it
seems to me it always pleases us to hear ourselves called beautiful）
but that my own sense of right was opposed to all this； as well as the
repeated advice of my parents； who now very plainly perceived Don
Fernando's purpose； for he cared very little if all the world knew it。
They told me they trusted and confided their honour and good name to
my virtue and rectitude alone； and bade me consider the disparity
between Don Fernando and myself； from which I might conclude that
his intentions； whatever he might say to the contrary； had for their
aim his own pleasure rather than my advantage； and if I were at all
desirous of opposing an obstacle to his unreasonable suit； they were
ready； they said； to marry me at once to anyone I preferred； either
among the leading people of our own town； or of any of those in the
neighbourhood； for with their wealth and my good name； a match might
be looked for in any quarter。 This offer； and their sound advice
strengthened my resolution； and I never gave Don Fernando a word in
reply that could hold out to him any hope of success； however remote。
〃All this caution of mine； which he must have taken for coyness； had
apparently the effect of increasing his wanton appetite… for that is
the name I give to his passion for me； had it been what he declared it
to be； you would not know of it now； because there would have been
no occasion to tell you of it。 At length he learned that my parents
were contemplating marriage for me in order to put an end to his hopes
of obtaining possession of me； or at least to secure additional
protectors to watch over me； and this intelligence or suspicion made
him act as you shall hear。 One night； as I was in my chamber with no
other companion than a damsel who waited on me； with the doors
carefully locked lest my honour should be imperilled through any
carelessness； I know not nor can conceive how it happened； but； with
all this seclusion and these precautions； and in the solitude and
silence of my retirement； I found him standing before me； a vision
that so astounded me that it deprived my eyes of sight； and my
tongue of speech。 I had no power to utter a cry； nor； I think； did
he give me time to utter one； as he immediately approached me； and
taking me in his arms （for； overwhelmed as I was； I was powerless； I
say； to help myself）； he began to make such professions to me that I
know not how falsehood could have had the power of dressing them up to
seem so like truth